Building a safety net: Protective factors and veterinary suicide prevention

Earlier this fall, the veterinary community woke up to tragic news—another colleague lost to suicide. While we will likely never know the circumstances that led to their death, we must keep asking why veterinary professionals face elevated suicide risk, and what we can do to prevent future losses and support those who are struggling.

We need to ask questions such as, Why do veterinary professionals have a suicide risk up to 4 times higher than that of the general population?¹ Or, Why do 1 in 4 veterinarians report thinking about suicide in a 12-month period, which is more than 3 times the general population?²

But more importantly, What can we do about it?

Risk factors: What we know

There are a myriad of personal vulnerabilities and life circumstances that can increase someone’s risk for suicide, including being female; personality traits like perfectionism or self-criticism; struggling with mental health challenges such as compassion fatigue, depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder; having a history of childhood adversity or trauma; or loss of a relationship. The nature of veterinary work brings additional risk factors that can make professionals more vulnerable, including:

• Frequent exposure to animal suffering, death, and euthanasia
• Long hours and/or heavy workloads
• Client conflict, bullying, harassment, public hostility, and organizational or systemic pressures
• Loss of a peer to suicide
• Limited support from colleagues or leadership
• Easy access to lethal means (e.g., pentobarbital)

While many of these risk factors can’t be avoided, the good news is that there are a number of protective factors that can help to combat these personal vulnerabilities and occupational hazards.

Personal and professional protective factors

Veterinary workplaces can help to promote mental wellness through psychologically safe work environments, supportive leadership, mental health and coping skills education, access to peer-support programs and mental health counseling, and safeguards for controlled substances.

While the workplace certainly has a role in supporting the well-being of its staff, individuals can also cultivate or strengthen their own protective factors. The following are examples of personal protective factors that not only reduce the risk of suicide, but also increase emotional resilience:

• Building supportive relationships and a sense of belonging
• Developing healthy coping strategies, such as grounding skills, nervous system regulation, and cognitive reframing
• Practicing self-care that supports mental health, including adequate sleep, healthy nutrition, regular exercise, limited alcohol use, and interests outside of caregiving
• Seeking mental health support
• Reducing access to lethal means in the home
• Cultivating a sense of purpose, meaning, and connection through personal, spiritual, religious, or cultural values

Building a safety net is a shared responsibility

Suicide prevention is a shared responsibility. Veterinary organizations must address workplace risks and make support accessible, while staff need access to resources and encouragement to seek help without judgment, shame, or stigma. Building a safety net requires more than just individual self-care. It requires a culture in which asking for help is safe, supported, and seen as a sign of strength.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts:

• Contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988
• Visit Not One More Vet at nomv.org for resources
• For helplines outside the US and Canada, visit iasp.info/suicidalthoughts.

References

1. Tomasi SE, Fechter-Leggett ED, Ingersoll KS, et al. Suicide among veterinarians in the United States from 1979 through 2015. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2019;254(1):104-112. doi:10.2460/javma.254.1.104
2. Perret JL, Best CO, Makanjee CR, et al. Prevalence of mental health outcomes among Canadian veterinarians. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2020;256(3):365-375. doi:10.2460/javma.256.3.365