In this blog marking World Suicide Prevention Day, Rosie Allister, Consultant Manager of Vetlife Helpline explores the myths, challenges, and most importantly the hope that exists in suicide prevention. She highlights how, as a profession, we can reshape the narrative by being strategic, compassionate, and skilled in the ways we support one another.
The theme for this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day on 10th September is ‘Changing the narrative on suicide’.
We know from research that veterinary professionals have elevated rates of suicide in many countries. This elevated risk and the connected nature of the veterinary community means that many of us experience suicide loss during our lifetimes, sometimes more than once. We also know that a proportion of people in the veterinary community will experience suicidal thoughts, and that it can feel difficult for veterinary professionals to access help.
Suicide in the veterinary profession
Suicide prevention, including support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts, has been a key part of the work of Vetlife for many years. As a charity that supports the veterinary community, we see the individual suffering, and the human cost of suicide in our professions.
Reflecting ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day, having worked for many years in veterinary suicide prevention, there are narratives on veterinary suicide I’d like to see change. One of the first changes in narrative we need as a profession, is for us to believe there is hope.
Challenging the myth
A common myth I come across in the veterinary community is that there is no point focussing effort, resources and attention on suicide prevention, ‘because if someone really wants to do it, they’ll do it anyway’. This is mistaken. There is evidence that suicide prevention work can reduce deaths by suicide. Importantly, there is a lot we can do in the veterinary community to help.
I’ve been affected personally by suicide loss, and I can understand why sometimes it is hard to hold onto hope in suicide prevention. I can understand why people in our professions might feel they don’t know where to start. But there is hope.
Hope and suicide prevention
What does a hopeful narrative look like in veterinary suicide prevention? It needs us to be strategic. To prevent veterinary suicide we need to plan, prioritise, and resource suicide prevention work. Vetlife has a webpage about suicide prevention which includes some of what veterinary employers can do. There are actions we can take at profession-level too. Strategic responses are key in preventing suicide.
A hopeful narrative needs us to be compassionate. It needs us to care for and support colleagues in distress. 20 years as a veterinary surgeon has taught me we are a deeply compassionate profession, with huge care for the animals and people we serve, but that sometimes we can struggle to be compassionate to ourselves. For lots of reasons it can feel difficult for veterinary professionals to ask for help. Often they’ll need support to do that. It isn’t enough to just tell veterinary professionals who are struggling to access help. We need to work to ensure that the right help is available, and that people know how to access it. We also need to make sure that people feel safe to do so, without any fear of adverse consequences.
Building skills and confidence to respond
A hopeful narrative also needs us to be skilled, so that we know how to respond if a colleague is struggling. Skills for response include being able to ask about suicidal thoughts. Sometimes people believe asking about suicide will put the idea in someone’s mind. This is a myth. Evidence suggests asking about suicide is safe and can be the start of a conversation that gives someone the opportunity to get help. In particular line managers being skilled in having mental health informed conversations, including feeling confident to ask about suicide, is vital. As is support for the managers doing that work. There are skills we can all develop in active listening and having supportive conversations. There is more guidance and links to information on the Vetlife website.
In my role at Vetlife I manage the helpline. In 2024 Vetlife Helpline responded to over 600 contacts from people who were suicidal. One of the greatest privileges of my work is seeing things get better for people. There are reasons for hope. Even in the darkest times people can find ways to hold on. If someone can’t find that right now, we may need to hold onto hope for them for a time. With help and support things can get better for people.
Support from Vetlife
If you are a veterinary professional and need support please contact Vetlife Helpline on 0303 040 2551, or email via the Vetlife website. Or contact Samaritans on 116 123.
