A PROGRAMME has been launched to reduce suicide in the veterinary profession, which is said to be four times the national average.
The Veterinary Assistance Programme, a mental health promotion and suicide prevention initiative, will be available free of charge to all vets and their families. It is being provided by the Irish Veterinary Benevolent Fund and aims to promote positive mental health and to provide crisis response at times of extreme stress. Its development is supported by the HSE and the National Office for Suicide Prevention.
At its launch yesterday, Benevolent Fund chairman Michael Roche said the proportional mortality ratio for suicide among the profession was four times that of the general population and about twice that of other healthcare professionals.
“In 2008, the Irish veterinary profession recognised that in order to address the issue of psychological stress, solutions had to come from within the profession,” he said.
Facilitated by Donal Connolly, a former president of Veterinary Ireland, an all-island working group was established to look at stress in the veterinary profession, involving delegates from veterinary representative, educational, support and regulatory bodies.
The programme, which became operational in March, consists of a 24-hour freephone professional counselling helpline; access to professional counselling; anonymous or “low-stigma” online professional counselling through e-mail and real-time “live connect”, and a dedicated “wellnet” website.
Peter Bishton of Veterinary Ireland said studies here and abroad had identified the high rate of suicide in the profession. There had been up to eight deaths in Ireland in the last five years.
“Given the fact there are 2,500 registered veterinary practitioners in the country, this confirms the rate as being four times the average rate in the rest of the population.”
Mr Bishton said there were many factors, including the stress and isolation many vets worked under and the hours employed in some practices giving 24/7 cover.