When the Unthinkable Happens: Supporting Veterinary Teams After Distressing Events

Working in veterinary medicine means expecting the unexpected. We plan our schedules, anticipate patient needs, and prepare for emergencies—but sometimes, the unexpected is overwhelming. A client becomes physically violent. A team member collapses from a health crisis mid-shift. A beloved patient experiences a sudden and traumatic outcome. These are what we call critical incidents—events that fall outside our normal frame of reference and challenge our ability to cope.

These incidents are emotionally intense, and their impact can ripple through an entire veterinary team. Understanding how to process these events—and how to support each other in the aftermath—is essential to maintaining both personal and team wellbeing.

The Emotional Toll of Critical Incidents

It’s normal to experience a wide range of emotional, physical, and behavioral responses following a distressing event. Some reactions are immediate; others may appear days, weeks, or even months later. Common responses include:

• Physical: muscle tension, nausea, dizziness, headaches, disrupted sleep, changes in appetite, rapid heartbeat.
  
• Emotional: sadness, anger, guilt, shame, anxiety, emotional numbness, feeling detached from others.
  
• Cognitive: intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, difficulty concentrating, racing thoughts, rumination.
  
• Behavioral: withdrawal from colleagues or loved ones, emotional outbursts, hypervigilance, reliance on substances or distractions to cope.

These are normal reactions to abnormal events, yet if they persist or intensify, they can contribute to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research suggests that veterinary professionals, due to repeated exposure to emotionally charged events, are at increased risk of developing PTSD. The intensity of critical incidents—whether it’s a patient unexpectedly coding during surgery, a severe anaphylactic reaction in the clinic, or witnessing a client panic or collapse—can have lasting psychological effects on veterinary team members.

Understanding PTSD in Veterinary Medicine

PTSD is often associated with extreme trauma such as combat or natural disasters, but it can occur in any high-stress profession where individuals are exposed to threatening or emotionally intense situations. In veterinary medicine, PTSD can emerge after experiences such as:

• Violent or aggressive clients: Physical threats or verbal abuse can leave team members feeling unsafe and hypervigilant.
  
• Patient loss or traumatic outcomes: Even routine procedures can sometimes go wrong, leaving teams to cope with grief and guilt.
  
• Medical emergencies or workplace crises: A sudden illness, injury, or death of a colleague or client in the clinic can be shocking and destabilizing.
  
• Mass casualty or disaster events: Natural disasters, severe weather, or disease outbreaks may require veterinarians to make difficult decisions under extreme stress.

Left unaddressed, these events can contribute to anxiety, depression, burnout, and moral stress. Team members may feel isolated, struggle with sleep or concentration, or develop intrusive memories of the incident.

Why Teams Are Vulnerable

Veterinary teams often work closely in emotionally charged environments, making them particularly susceptible to secondary stress. When one team member is affected by a critical incident, the impact spreads. Emotional contagion is real: sadness, anger, and anxiety can ripple through the team. Without structured support, teams may experience reduced cohesion, increased conflict, and lower job satisfaction.

Veterinarians, technicians, nurses, and support team members frequently prioritize patient care and client expectations above their own emotional needs. This self-sacrifice, while noble, can exacerbate stress responses and leave team members vulnerable to long-term psychological effects.

Introducing Critical Incident Group Debriefing (CIGD)

One evidence-based way to mitigate the impact of critical incidents is Critical Incident Group Debriefing (CIGD). At Reviving Veterinary Medicine, CIGD is a structured, short-term group intervention that helps teams navigate the immediate aftermath of emotionally intense events. Unlike informal check-ins, CIGD provides a safe, supportive environment for teams to process experiences together.

What happens in a CIGD session?
During a 90-minute session facilitated by trained professionals, team members:

• Share their personal experiences and reactions in a non-judgmental space.
  
• Explore the emotional, cognitive, and physical impact of the incident.
  
• Validate each other’s responses, normalizing the intense emotions that often follow critical events.
  
• Learn coping strategies and practical tools to manage ongoing stress.
  
• Identify pathways for individual and team recovery, fostering resilience and cohesion.

The Benefits of Debriefing

CIGD offers numerous benefits for veterinary teams:

1. Reduces risk of long-term trauma: Processing the incident soon after it occurs helps prevent intrusive memories, flashbacks, and PTSD symptoms.
   
2. Promotes team cohesion: Teams grow stronger when members feel heard, understood, and supported.
   
3. Improves communication: Debriefing creates a space where team members can speak openly about their experiences without judgment.
   
4. Fosters resilience: Learning coping strategies and acknowledging shared stressors helps teams respond more effectively to future critical incidents.

Debriefing is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but evidence shows it can be transformative, particularly when implemented proactively after an incident.

Taking Care of Yourself and Your Team

After a critical incident, there are several steps team members can take to support recovery:

• Talk openly about what happened: Share experiences with trusted colleagues, friends, or family.
  
• Acknowledge your emotions: Allow yourself to feel sadness, anger, or fear without judgment.
  
• Maintain routines and self-care: Nutrition, rest, and physical activity support mental health.
  
• Reflect and journal: Writing about the incident can help organize thoughts and process feelings.
  
• Seek professional support: Mental health professionals or trained CIGD facilitators can provide guidance and validation.
  
• Support colleagues: Check in with each other, normalize reactions, and foster team cohesion.

Avoid isolating yourself, numbing feelings with substances, or making impulsive life changes. These behaviors can impede recovery and prolong stress responses.

Building a Culture of Resilience

Veterinary medicine will always involve challenging and emotionally intense moments. But when teams are equipped with the tools to process these events, the risk of PTSD and long-term stress decreases. Implementing structured support like CIGD is a critical step in creating a workplace culture rooted in compassion, understanding, and resilience.

Leaders and team members alike benefit from proactive debriefing practices. By normalizing emotional responses, encouraging open dialogue, and providing professional support, veterinary teams can continue delivering compassionate care without sacrificing their own mental health.

Moving Forward

Critical incidents are an unavoidable part of veterinary practice. But they don’t have to define our wellbeing. CIGD offers teams a structured, evidence-based way to process distressing events, reduce the risk of PTSD, and foster resilience.

If your team has recently experienced a traumatic or emotionally intense event, consider scheduling a CIGD session. Supporting your team through these moments ensures that veterinary professionals can continue providing the highest quality care to patients while maintaining their own mental health.

Your wellbeing matters. Processing critical incidents together not only protects your mental health but strengthens your team, your practice, and your ability to serve your patients with compassion and confidence.