SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH

The numbers are grim. According to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, female veterinarians are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than members of the general population. And while female veterinarians account for two-thirds of US veterinarians, their suicide rate is more than twice that for male veterinarians, who are 2.1 times more likely to take their own lives as members of the general population. The study was published in January in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

It’s not surprising, given that veterinarians and other team members deal with life and death on a daily basis. They handle emergencies, deal with schedule disruptions, struggle with financial pressures, both their own and those of clients who may or may not be able to afford procedures. MVP feels strongly that it’s critical for practices to discuss with team members the fact that veterinary medicine is a stressful profession and it’s logical to feel overwhelmed by stress at times. This can have a significant impact on team members who are feeling distressed but may think they are the only team members who feel that way and are afraid to acknowledge it.

MVP encourages all team members to seek help if they’re distressed. Use MVP’s Employee Assistance Program for free counseling, the Breethe app for relaxation and sleep, see a physician, or do something as simple as taking a mental health day when needed. MVP is distributing new magnets to practices to help team members remember that there are resources to assist. The magnets include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline information. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention, and crisis resources.

If you feel that you’re in crisis, please get help immediately by calling 1-800-273-8255 or contacting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s Crisis Chat team. You are not alone, and there are people who can help you. If you recognize potential signs in a colleague, offer them support, but also get help from experienced mental health professionals. AVMA offers free training to teach members how to identify at-risk colleagues and guide them to get professional support here. You can also find additional compiled existing wellness resources on MVP’s website here and financial resources here.