Australian veterinarians’ poor mental health is a problem that we must work on to stop suicide

On a far too regular basis, Warwick Vale is called upon to reach out to the families and colleagues of Aussie vets who have chosen to end their lives.

Warwick Vale and Australian Veterinary Association President

3 min read

May 16, 2021 - 6:00AM

News Corp Australia Network

Vets are at breaking point and need more help. Picture: iStock

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Opinion: Suicide and poor mental health are currently (and historically) a huge problem within the worldwide veterinarian community. Australia veterinarians are not immune to these problems. On a far too regular basis, I am called upon to write condolences and reach out to the families and workplace colleagues of Australian veterinarians who have chosen to end their lives. Our current severe workforce shortages and work force attrition are further symptoms of a profession and an essential community service that is in crisis.

For many of my colleagues, a career as a veterinary clinician is a difficult and damaging pathway to take. Aspects of the working environment such as the long hours, poor remuneration, high stress, and unrealistic client expectations – these all contribute to an unsustainable workplace and lifestyle.

The toxicity of these workplace conditions and workplace cultures is often overwhelming, causing many early career veterinarians to leave their chosen vocation and pursue different occupations. Those that do not leave often struggle throughout their working lives, feeling locked into a career and lifestyle that creates burnout and adverse health. Some find they can only sustain part time work in such a demanding and difficult job.

New Australian Veterinary Association president Warrick Vale. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

An efficacious solution seems to elude the Australian veterinary community, despite a longstanding knowledge of the extent of the problem and an identification of the causal factors. However, the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is committed to making a difference. It is leading the way, galvanising the profession to seek the external help and support it needs and driving a change agenda within veterinarian workplaces so that workplaces are safer, and careers in clinical practice are sustainable. The problems must be tackled from each end, addressing poor mental health whilst improving veterinarian salaries and working conditions. The AVA is championing the essential role of veterinarians in our communities, challenging government to increase the Veterinarian Award pay scales and asking pet owners to take out pet health insurance as a tool mitigate the financial impost on pet health care.

We are mentoring practice owners in business skills so that they can improve their business models such that workplace reward is consummate with the investment, risk, stress, and work demands. Veterinary practices and their employed vets are benefiting from the AVA Employer of Choice Accreditation scheme. Sustainable and progressive veterinary businesses are safer for both the owners and employed veterinarians, and unsurprisingly generate better reward for all stakeholders.

Veterinarians must make the required mindset shift to put an end to the workplace conditions that are the direct causal links to poor mental health. In our community, we must explain our crisis and encourage animal owners to support and empathise with their veterinarians and staff.

The veterinary profession is small but is also overwhelmingly respected, valued, collegial and dedicated to animal welfare and community service. The profession, from the teaching universities, to city, regional and rural veterinary practices, dog vets, horse vets, cat vets, farm vets, researchers, vets in Govt and industry – these must all take stock and come together as one with a resolution to change what is needed to return our profession to sustainability and protect its key human investment and asset – your veterinarian!

Dr Warwick Vale is the President of the Australian Veterinary Association

WHAT VETERINARIAN SUICIDE EXPERTS AND VETS WANT:

■ Government subsidised vet emergency centres for lower socio-economic groups like age pensioners.

■ Lowering the cost of veterinary courses at university and increasing the number of graduates.

■ The introduction of a bond scheme where veterinary graduates who work in rural and regional communities have their HECS fees waived.

■ A change to rules that require vets who qualified overseas to pass an exam before they can practice here.

■ Increasing the award rate of pay ($52,080 per annum for a graduate).

■ Changing the workplace culture to ease long working hours and make the veterinary industry a healthier place for veterinarians to work in.

■ Encouraging pet insurance as the best way to help people cover the high costs of vet care.

■ Establishing a telephone number vets can call when they are so short-staffed that they can no longer cope and a pool of veterinary locums who can be placed in positions where the situation is becoming dire.

■ Delivering clear advice for those who fear a vet they know is suicidal: act immediately, get them to hospital, don’t leave them on their own, change the combination lock on the medicines safe, take the keys of the practice away from them.

■ Supporting the Love Your Pet Love Your Vet charity, which aims to raise awareness of the suicide problem and increase wellbeing in the veterinary industry. Founded by Psychologist Dr Nadine Hamilton, who spent over six years researching veterinarian wellbeing.