E27: Why suicide among Veterinarians is a growing problem

The Good Mental Health Podcast

Veterinarian Ciaran McAuley joins us to discuss this very important topic - why suicide among Veterinarians is a growing problem... Suicide and non-fatal suicidal behaviour are major public health problems across the world: approximately 1 million people worldwide die by suicide each year. The rate of suicide in the veterinary profession has been pegged as close to twice that of the dental profession, more than twice that of the medical profession, and 4 times the rate in the general population. There are a number of factors contributing to the high level of mental health issues among people working in the veterinary sector. Several relate to the demands of the job itself, the long, often antisocial working hours, heavy workloads, poor work-life balance, sometimes difficult client relations and often feeling isolated, which we know are associated with higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide. The training itself is also incredibly demanding and requires a very high level of academic achievement yet isn’t designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to stay well when working under challenging conditions. Topics covered: • What it’s like to be a Veterinarian • Why there is an increasing risk of suicide amongst Veterinarian's • The psychological distress will Veterinarians face • How many veterinarians take their own lives in the UK - what can be done about this growing problem • How the human givens approach could help Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy - explore our helpful links and resources below... • Find a human givens therapist - https://www.hgi.org.uk/?q=find-therapist • Discover more about the Human Givens Approach - www.humangivens.com/human-givens/about/ • How to Reduce Suicide Risk Live Training Day - https://www.humangivens.com/college/how-to-manage-suicide-risk-live-online-training/ • Suicide Prevention Awareness - https://www.humangivens.com/2021/09/02/world-suicide-prevention-day/ • Human Givens Training - www.humangivens.com/college/ If you have been affected by issues discussed in this episode the following organisations can provide support information: • Mind Matters - https://www.vetmindmatters.org • Vetlife - https://www.vetlife.org.uk • Vet Support NI - https://www.vetni.co.uk • Veterinary Voices UK (Facebook closed discussion group) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/veterinaryvoicesuk If you enjoyed this podcast, please write a review. Thank you. #psychology #mentalhealthawareness #psychotherapy #humangivens #thegoodmentalhealthpodcast