[FurKids]

This is the Australian report.

Rural vet suicide rate a concern

Wednesday, 30/04/2008

Vets have the highest expected suicide rate in Australia, with rural vets the most vulnerable.

A new study in the mental health of vets found they are four times more likely to commit suicide compared to the general adult population, due to isolation and long hours.

Dr Helen Fairnie, from Curtin University's School of Public Health, says 13 vets have taken their lives in Western Australia and Victoria in the last 13 years, indicating a serious national issue.

"Because we are such a small profession, when you work it out per hundred thousand, for comparison with the national average, it is very high," she said.

"And we are now trying to find ways of alleviating some of the concerns of the veterinarians.

"But the first thing we need to do is to get statistics for the whole of Australia, and there are problems in South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland."

Kangaroo Island vet, Greg Johnson, says that he has known several South Australian vets to take their own lives, and it's just the long hours that depress them.

"Certainly there are times when you get frustrated and there are times you think it would be nice to be able to shut the door and walk away," he said.

"There is stress in dealing with the animals and with the owners that are obviously concerned about the welfare of their pets.

"And there's also the quite a bit of stress from running the business and particularly the stress associated with people who don't want to pay for the cost of veterinary treatment in some circumstances."