Mental Health in Spanish Veterinarians: Emotional Exhaustion, Affective Symptomatology, and Suicidal Ideation

The mental health of veterinary professionals has become an increasing concern due to the high levels of psychological distress and suicide risk reported in this profession. The present study examined the association between emotional exhaustion and suicidal ideation, considering the mediating role of depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms. A total of 216 Spanish veterinary professionals completed standardized questionnaires assessing emotional exhaustion, affective symptoms, and suicidal ideation. The results revealed a high prevalence of emotional exhaustion, with more than half of the participants reporting high or very high levels. In addition, a considerable proportion of the sample reported experiencing at least one indicator of suicidal ideation during the previous year. Emotional exhaustion was associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. However, the mediation analysis indicated that only depressive symptoms explained the relationship between emotional exhaustion and suicidal ideation, whereas anxiety and stress did not show a significant mediating effect. Overall, the model accounted for a substantial proportion of the variance in suicidal ideation. These findings highlight the central role of depression in the link between emotional exhaustion and suicidal ideation, underscoring the need for early detection and prevention of depressive symptoms in veterinary professionals.