Young vets at risk of suicide

Young veterinarians, plunged into practice soon after graduation, are facing high levels of stress.

Veterinary bodies have acted quickly after a survey found stress levels among vets were so high many had considered suicide.

The survey of 2000 vets was responded to by 970. A quarter said they felt depressed reasonably often and 16 per cent admitted to having considered suicide.

The survey was prompted by a spate of suicides in younger veterinarians between 1996 and 2000.

Veterinary Association chief executive Murray Gibb said the results had proved that fears of a widespread problem were well-founded.

"The average veterinarian is experiencing high levels of stress."

The association and the Veterinary Council had immediately taken measures to address the problem.

Veterinarians now had access to a freephone line staffed by Workplace Support that could be called at any time by vets in difficulty or who were concerned about a colleague. Special programmes, networking and mentoring schemes had also been organised for new and recent graduates.

"The new veterinarians are particularly vulnerable," Mr Gibb said.

"They are plunged into practice without an internship. They have all the challenges of proving themselves professionally competent in the real world, and having to take full responsibility for the client's animals.

"On top of that, they will have a student debt, they may be working long hours and living away from their usual support systems."

- NZPA