Background and Aim: Veterinarians experience disproportionately high levels of psychological distress and suicidal ideation compared with other professional groups. Occupational stress (OS), compassion fatigue, workplace environment (WE), and coping strategies have been identified as relevant risk or protective factors; however, their interrelationships remain insufficiently explored, particularly in Brazil. This study aimed to examine the direct and indirect pathways linking occupational psychosocial factors to suicidal ideation among Brazilian veterinarians working in companion-animal practice, with psychological distress conceptualized as a central mediating mechanism. Materials and Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted between June and July 2022 involving 1,472 veterinarians exclusively engaged in small animal practice in Brazil. Participants completed validated self-report measures assessing psychological distress (Kessler-6), suicidal ideation, coping strategies, compassion fatigue, OS, and WE. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with 5,000 bootstrap resamples. Direct, indirect, and mediating effects were estimated, and model fit, reliability, and validity were assessed. Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of Inspirar College (protocol no. 31645220.4.0000.5594). Results: Psychological distress emerged as the strongest predictor of suicidal ideation (β = 0.40; p < 0.001), explaining 20.6% of its variance. OS showed a substantial positive association with psychological distress (β = 0.47; p < 0.001), followed by compassion fatigue (β = 0.15; p < 0.001) and WE (β = 0.07; p = 0.028). Coping strategies exerted a significant protective effect on psychological distress (β = −0.26; p < 0.001) and suicidal ideation (β = −0.08; p = 0.013). Indirect effects confirmed that psychological distress mediated the associations between OS, compassion fatigue, WE, and suicidal ideation. Younger age and female gender were indirectly associated with higher suicidal ideation through increased psychological distress. Conclusion: Psychological distress plays a central mediating role in the relationship between occupational psychosocial factors and suicidal ideation among Brazilian veterinarians. Interventions targeting OS reduction, emotional support, and the promotion of adaptive coping strategies may substantially mitigate suicide risk in veterinary clinical practice. Keywords: compassion fatigue, coping strategies, occupational stress, psychological distress, small animal veterinarians, structural equation modeling, suicidal ideation, workplace environment.

Veterinary professionals are exposed to intense emotional and occupational demands that can compromise mental health. This nationwide cross-sectional study surveyed 1992 Brazilian veterinarians to assess their psychological distress, well-being, and coping strategies. Logistic regression identified that women, early-career professionals, and individuals with low income were more likely to experience psychological distress. Long working hours and professional dissatisfaction were significant risk factors. In contrast, adaptive coping behaviors, such as spending time with the family, sleeping at least eight hours per night, and engaging in leisure activities, were associated with better mental health outcomes. Institutional wellness programs tailored to the veterinary profession should incorporate strategies to mitigate stress and promote resilience. Although the cross-sectional design limits causal inference, the large sample size and use of validated measures provide robust insights. Future research should adopt longitudinal and interventional designs to refine the strategies that support veterinarians’ mental well-being.

Veterinary professionals are exposed to intense emotional and occupational demands, which compromise their mental health. This nationwide cross-sectional study surveyed 1,992 Brazilian veterinarians to assess their psychological distress, well-being, and coping strategies. Logistic regression identified that women, early career professionals, and individuals with low income were more likely to experience psychological distress. Longer working hours and dissatisfaction with the profession have emerged as significant risk factors. In contrast, adaptive coping behaviors, such as spending time with the family, sleeping at least eight hours per night, and engaging in leisure activities, were associated with better mental health outcomes. Institutional wellness programs tailored to the veterinary field should consider integrating strategies to mitigate stress and promote resilience. Although the study’s cross-sectional design limits causal inference, the large sample size and validated measures offered robust insights. Future research should include longitudinal and interventional approaches to refine the strategies that support veterinarians’ mental well-being.