Vetnuus | May 2026 33 >>>34 natural disasters or COVID-19, is important in helping to mitigate negative psychological effects for those directly involved. The relationship or bond between the animal and the person who is depopulating is also important. In laboratory animal environments, rotation of duties has been employed to try to mitigate the psychological impact of depopulation by helping create emotional distance between involved animals and people. For instance, the identification of which animals must be euthanised and the performance of the task may be assigned to different people. Similarly, attachment to the animals is a consideration in the food system. Female caretakers of piglets on sow farms, for example, have more difficulty with euthanasia than those working in finishing units.28 Many of those involved with depopulation efforts have a longstanding, financially and emotionally complex relationship with the impacted animals. Attention to this relationship is an important factor to consider when trying to mitigate the negative psychological effects of depopulation. Additional factors such as time pressure, access to preferred humane killing methods, and adequate training for implementing these methods can impact psychological responses by limiting caregivers’ ability to emotionally prepare. In emergency depopulation of animals due to animal or public health crises, there is often a need to act immediately. This can negatively impact the ability of those involved to engage in pre-emptive self-care and regulation of thoughts and emotions. Even in situations where euthanasia is a necessary and expected part of the process, such as within research laboratory environments, timing and training are important factors to consider when supporting the people involved. The animal food system has unique challenges, however, in that although it is expected that there will be disease outbreaks or other disasters that require depopulation, the unpredictable nature of these events can make managing the psychological impact difficult. Ensuring that the people involved have the appropriate tools for implementation and adequate training (including detailed information about the process and what to expect) is critically important to help protect their psychological health. Times of imminent need for action, a lack of adequate resources to implement recommended depopulation methods, or both add complexity to a depopulation effort. Planning and training for these types of emergency situations, for both veterinary and other animal-related professionals, can be of benefit. Lastly, the potential negative impact of public opinion and social media on those directly involved with depopulation cannot be overstated. The stress of making difficult depopulation choices is often compounded by a lack of understanding and judgment by those not involved.29 This can make individuals reluctant to seek out social support, a well-known and important tool for coping with difficult experiences. Depopulation is a complicated topic, one that friends, loved ones, and even other veterinarians may not understand or may have strong negative views about. As a result, many people directly involved in depopulation may feel unable to reach out to those close to them for emotional support. For those who do, all too often these interactions can be demoralising, painful, and ostracizing30, exacerbating the risk of feeling guilt and shame. Similarly, negative social media related to depopulation efforts can result in increased likelihood of trauma-related stress, psychological distress, and even fear related to one’s own physical safety. Incidents in which veterinarians and other animalrelated professionals involved in depopulation efforts have been threatened or harassed are common.28,30 Call to Action Overview As one can see, the veterinary profession is at a turning point related to the psychological impacts of humane endings that have accelerated with the COVID-19 pandemic. This has highlighted the need to address what current resources are available to help those involved in euthanasia, slaughter, and especially depopulation of animals (e.g., veterinarians, people performing humane killing methods, and people losing the animals) as well as various questions, including who is currently and actively addressing these issues, what current research is being performed, and why we, as veterinarians, need to support and invest in this issue. With a bold approach and open heart, the veterinary profession can address these issues and help create a safe space with open dialogue for veterinarians who have historically felt misunderstood by their fellow colleagues to actively support one another. Addressing the negative stigmas, increasing internal support through a cohesive veterinary profession, creating practical resources to prepare veterinarians for humane endings activities, increasing the depth of related education in the veterinary curriculum, and leveraging support from mental health professionals are keys to the psychological well-being of all veterinarians. Address negative stigmas For production animal veterinarians, society has expectations of having access to meat and dairy products that are safe, affordable, and readily available. There is a disconnect and general lack of knowledge among the public about where these products come from and what it takes to produce the food. In addition, there needs to be a general understanding, public education, and widespread acceptance of the necessity of increased prices that may come from the improvement in animal welfare. We need a safe place for production animal veterinarians to be recognised for their contributions to keeping the animals healthy and enhancing their welfare; recognition is necessary for the day-to-day work that is required to care for vast herds and flocks of production animals and the management of workers who assist with the care and well-being of these animals. Similarly, for laboratory animal veterinarians, there is a stigma and a misperception among the public. The public needs to have access to accurate information about the value of animal models and their association with new therapeutics and scientific discoveries.31 The current pandemic is a prime example of the value of animal models in responding to global diseases. Decades of research with animal models have contributed to the rapid response and development of vaccines and therapeutic treatments32 that have saved countless human and animal lives. As stated in the veterinary oath, veterinarians have a shared commitment to enhance society by protecting animal health and considering the larger concept of public health, wellness, and advancing medical knowledge. The question then becomes, how do we unify the profession to better support one another during challenging times associated with humane endings? Foster well-being through increased cohesiveness of the veterinary profession Veterinarians, by nature, tend to empathise with people as well as other animals.33 They are hardwired to come together to help others during times of need. For example, there are organisations34,35 dedicated to supporting the mental health of veterinarians through Article
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