Western Australia mentoring program tackles high veterinarian suicide rate

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation

In the largely rural state of Western Australia, veterinarians face challenges to their mental health such as sleep-disruptive nighttime professional calls, stress, and witnessing the death and suffering of animals that they are unable to help. Combined with ready access to medications that can be used for self-poisoning, these conditions have contributed to a suicide rate in the profession that is alarming to many. In response, a group of veterinarians created a “graduate support program” to pair newly graduated vets with more seasoned colleagues who can offer advice and friendly contact, and who have been trained as gatekeepers to recognize signs of depression. The program’s leaders have begun to do mental health outreach to older, retired vets as well, and hope soon to establish the network nationwide.