Veterinary profession mental health: Australian Veterinary Association

Long hours, challenging clients and interpersonal relationships are some of the key workplace mental health and safety hazards for veterinary professionals. Despite the proliferation of resources and training in recent years, suicide rates for veterinary professionals are still higher than for the adult population.   

“I started to ask whether we were missing something; were more resources needed or were current approaches just off the mark. How could we refocus our association and the profession to deliver a better outcome.”

Dr Warwick Vale, Australian Veterinary Association 2021 President 

Recognising that something needed to be done, the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) commissioned research and stakeholder engagement to inform recommendations for a profession-led initiative to support mental health. The literature review, desktop analysis and final report was conducted through SuperFriend. The main findings were: 

• Many current approaches focus on supporting individuals in need, rather than addressing the work-based risks of mental ill-health.  
• The risks to mental health are well known, but the protective factors are less recognised (e.g. sense of community and a strong professional identity).  
• The challenge for a profession-led initiative is to shift the perceptions of mental health: from talking about illness to talking about wellness and what thriving can look like. 
• A new initiative must also consider the whole career lifecycle, from student through to retirement, because each stage has unique risks.  

A Veterinary Wellness Steering Group has recently been formed by the AVA, and together with the team at SuperFriend, they will be developing an industry led mental health strategy and suicide prevention framework that aims to support all veterinary professionals.