A Cross-Sectional Study on Burnout, Emotional Distress, and Suicidal Thoughts Among International and Hungarian Veterinary Students

Suicide is an increasing concern in veterinary medicine. As veterinary students prepare to enter a profession with unique emotional and occupational stressors, maintaining mental well-being is crucial for academic functioning and professional development. This study aimed to assess the self-reported mental health-related experiences of veterinary students in Hungary, focusing on psychological distress, academic strain and emotional exhaustion, attitudes toward mental health, perceived preparedness for professional training, and suicide-related thoughts and help-seeking. Data were collected through using an exploratory, online questionnaire. A total of 194 students (130 international and 64 Hungarian) from the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest completed the survey between July 2021 and February 2022. Factors such as country, age, gender, and academic year were assessed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's Chi-square tests, and binary and ordinal logistic regression models, with internal consistency assessed by Cronbach's alpha. Students identified fatigue, emotional exhaustion (mean: 4.22 ± 0.92), and burnout-related experiences (mean: 3.80 ± 1.21) as the most detrimental factors affecting their mental well-being on a Likert scale of 1–5, particularly in higher academic years. Female students were more likely to report a diagnosis of mental illness compared with male students. International students expressed higher concern about suicide risk in the veterinary profession ( p < .0001), while Hungarian students rated their current mental status lower ( p < .0001). Notably, 26.9% of international and 6.2% of Hungarian students reported knowing a veterinary student who had died by suicide ( p < .001), highlighting the visibility of suicide-related experiences within the community. Although the overall occurrence of suicidal thoughts was low, slightly higher levels were reported among Hungarian and male students. These results provide insight into the psychological challenges affecting veterinary students and underline the importance of accessible, targeted mental health support within veterinary education.