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Why Are British Veterinarians Killing Themselves?

There is an interesting story today about the startling suicide rate for British veterinarians — 400 percent the rate of the general public.


Researchers believe that the cause is the combination of high stress and easy access to drugs.

In any given year, five or six of Britain’s 16,000 veterinarians kill themselves.

Eighty to ninety percent of the suicides involved drugs with at least half of male veterinarians choosing barbiturates.

What is particularly interesting is the conclusion that the common use of euthanasia for animals to relieve suffering may result in doctors looking at suicide as a rational choice in their own lives.

Siegfried Farnon was always a bit rigid in All Creatures Great and Small but this brings a whole new angle to the series.

For the full story, click here.

7 thoughts on “Why Are British Veterinarians Killing Themselves?”

  1. There are 35 Veterinary programs in the US – it’s harder to be admitted to one of them than to be admitted to a (human) Medical school. There are lot’s of people who WANT to be a Veterinarian, but got a B in some class as some point, and never will. Nonetheless, anyone considering veterinary medicine really must spend some time working in the field – it will be “crappy” and a little dangerous, but vital. Times have changed from when Byron was working in a vet clinic. Any small animal practice in a middle to upper income area will be much more pleasant than what he describes – not without challenges, but nowhere near as understandably depressing. (Plus, nowadays, the folks who mop/clean cages are distinct from the trained veterinary technicians who would be involved in a euthanasia procedure – at least at a well run practice.)

    On a separate point: In the UK we’re talking about 0.031% (“5 or 6 in 16,000”). Can one say that this is statistically significant compared with other related professions?

  2. “I have a granddaughter who is considering Veterinary Science … I’m going to share your post with her and advise her to try a summer internship this year before she makes up her mind.”

    There is not a job in the world that doesn’t come with a downside….I wouldn’t discourage too heavily…there are waaaaaaay more pluses than minuses if she has a heart for animals.

  3. Blouise:

    I also thought it was very interesting, but euthanizing animals and cleaning shit out of cages was not my cup of tea. I imagine you don’t have to put animals down if they are healthy and you don’t want to. The other side of the coin is great satisfaction in helping a dog or cat feel better.

    I think being a vet is a good profession and have the highest respect for what they do.

    That is a good idea for her to do that, she should do it for free if they cant hire her. Make sure she finds a vet who actually likes what he/she does. I know a few who do it just for the money but really aren’t into it. That will turn a young person off pretty fast.

  4. Byron

    I used to work for a vet and would help with surgeries, cleaning cages, etc. I also used to help him put animals down, I never got used to doing it. The old ones that were sick I was ok with but people would bring in perfectly healthy dogs to be put down for no other reason than they were tired of taking care of them.

    I was only around 16 but I did not become a vet because of that. I think it gets to a person after awhile and it is an easy way out, just go to sleep. You are already softened up to the idea by doing it to all of the dogs and cats. I don’t think it has much to do with being a high achiever. Highly successful engineers don’t kill themselves and neither do highly successful architects, at least not in large numbers.

    ================================================================

    I have a granddaughter who is considering Veterinary Science … I’m going to share your post with her and advise her to try a summer internship this year before she makes up her mind.

    Thanks

  5. I used to work for a vet and would help with surgeries, cleaning cages, etc. I also used to help him put animals down, I never got used to doing it. The old ones that were sick I was ok with but people would bring in perfectly healthy dogs to be put down for no other reason than they were tired of taking care of them.

    I was only around 16 but I did not become a vet because of that. I think it gets to a person after awhile and it is an easy way out, just go to sleep. You are already softened up to the idea by doing it to all of the dogs and cats. I don’t think it has much to do with being a high achiever. Highly successful engineers don’t kill themselves and neither do highly successful architects, at least not in large numbers.

    FFLEO:

    so people that just don’t give a rat’s rectum are safe from suicide? Party on dude 🙂

  6. Quote from the linked article

    “The stress begins while they’re still in training. Typically, entrance to veterinary schools is limited to high achievers, whose personality traits may include neurosis, conscientiousness and perfectionism, all risk factors for suicidal behaviors.”

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  7. Just looking at the headline,you kind of shrug a little.But reading the link to the story and the comments posted there. Interesting.

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