Survey reveals psychological distress among veterinarians involved in large-scale animal depopulation events.

Veterinarians involved in depopulation events face significant psychological distress, with inadequate organizational mental health support.

This cross-sectional anonymous online survey assessed the psychological impact of large-scale production-animal depopulation events on 220 licensed veterinarians, predominantly in government and regulatory roles. The survey was conducted from February through April 2026 and evaluated depopulation experience, methods used, psychological responses, perceptions of ventilation shutdown (VSD), and availability of mental health support. Of the 220 respondents, 144 (65.5%) had participated in at least one depopulation event. Psychological distress varied significantly by depopulation method. VSD was the most distressing, with 61.1% of exposed veterinarians rating it very or extremely distressing. VSD with supplemental heat and humidity was rated distressing by 37.7%, while CO2-based systems and water-based foam were associated with distress rates below 15%. Common psychological responses among those with depopulation experience included emotional numbness (31.2%), anger/frustration (26.4%), anxiety (25.0%), guilt/shame (25.0%), and sleep disturbance (24.3%). Critically, 63.4% of respondents reported no access to mental health support, and 44% felt minimally supported by their organizations. Respondents broadly endorsed improved preparedness, expanded access to higher-welfare depopulation methods, and stronger institutional policies addressing both animal welfare and responder well-being. The authors frame these findings within a One Welfare framework, emphasizing the bidirectional relationship between animal and human welfare. The study supports integrating psychological resources into depopulation response planning and highlights a significant gap in organizational support for veterinarians performing these high-distress duties.

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