Veterinarian suicide awareness raised by Flynn’s Walk

Vets have an alarmingly high suicide rate compared to other health professionals, with one taking their own life every three months.

Veterinarians are four times as likely to take their own lives as the general population, with a vet suicide almost every three months.

According to Australian Veterinary Association research, vets have a disproportionately high suicide rate due to burnout and are at least two times more likely to die by suicide than other health care professionals.

On Sunday, veterinarians walked side-by-side in Brisbane to raise money for mental health awareness in their industry.

It was the first time Flynn’s Walk came to Queensland since its inception in 2018.

Practice Manager at Greencross Vets in Tenerife Tamisha Franz was among the crowd with her precious pup Charlie.

She said most people are shocked to hear vets have “such high suicide rates.”

“People look at the vet industry and think its puppies and kittens all day but we are a group of really highly empathetic people working in a highly emotional environment,” Ms Franz said.

“When an animal is unwell, they can't tell you what’s wrong and you can't tell them and your then consoling owners as well, people who have such an attachment to their pet.

Practice manager at Greencross Vet Teneriffe, Tamisha Franz, 28, of Herston, with her FRAG Charlie, ready for Flynn’s walk in New Farm Park.

“Every vet I know is trying their best every day, and you don't always have the desired outcome.

“It's never easy to break bad news to an owner.”

With only 9500 practising vets in Australia and an estimated one million pets to care for after the pandemic pet ownership boom, Ms Franz said it was an important time to reflect on mental health in the industry.

“Management do put lot of emphasis on this topic and encouraged us to attend the walk,” she said.

“Greencross is particularly great, I’m a mental aid health officer, there's one in every clinic.

“We go for training for that so we can recognise signs of employees needing help and we take refresher (courses) every year to ensure we able to continue in the role.

“But It’s definitely a rewarding career, which sounds a little bit cliche, but you’re making an animals life better.”

As sponsor, the Petbarn Foundation will donate all sales of Green and White Hedgehogs from the weekend to Flynn’s Walk.