Suicide in the veterinary profession is a well-recognised issue. There has been an increased risk of suicide with a steady upward trend over the past three decades (Perret et al., 2020). Western Australian and Victorian veterinarians are now respectively 4 times and 3.8 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, which is higher than any other healthcare professions (Jones-Fairnie, 2008). High veterinary suicide rates have also been reported in international studies (Agerbo, 2007; Stark, 2006). There are suggestions that the profession is particularly vulnerable because of several complex and multi-faceted risk factors, including, high stress working environments, the selection of highly intelligent students due to the high course entry requirements, personality trait of perfectionism, high student loans, national veterinary shortage meaning long and unsociable hours, low starting wages, and the availability of lethal means in workplaces (SuperFriend, 2022).
There is a variety of interventions in place across veterinary settings to address the issue of mental health and mental ill health in the veterinary industry. Much of this work tends to focus on managing illness, and a broader and more holistic approach involving preventing harm, protecting mental health, promoting mental health, and managing illness is needed to positively impact mental health outcomes (Superfriend, 2022). The School of Veterinary Medicine at Murdoch University has recently adopted a novel approach to veterinarian mental health and wellbeing. In 2021, vet-specific counsellor roles were introduced and embedded into the School of Veterinary Medicine allowing Vet staff and students to access 1:1 counselling, support with reflective practice and workshops specific to vet practice with a wellbeing focus. The introduction of this role has also allowed risk and protective factors to be addressed in a systemic way, promoted culture change, and significantly reducing stigma associated with accessing mental health support. This is a positive sign and important advancement for veterinary suicide prevention.