Addressing the mental health crisis in the veterinary profession

Even prior to the onset of COVID 19, there were considerable wellness problems across a number of sectors in the veterinary profession. Research shows that the profession experiences suicide rates of four times those of the general population. COVID 19 has exacerbated mental health issues within the profession. AVA has commissioned independent research by workplace mental health consultants, Superfriend, to investigate mental health amongst the profession. What has been found is that the issue needs to be addressed on multiple fronts, including financial stress, working conditions, and client relations.  AVA has made  considerable investment in research and support services for veterinarians suffering mental health issues and will be seeking $3 million in government support over the next 5 years to implement the findings of the research.

Commitments should be made to improving workplace mental health issues that are being experienced in many sectors of the economy. The challenge for policy makers is the extent and nature of the problems are different for different sectors. The Government should adopt a sectoral approach, supported by industry specific research to fund targeted programs to address wellness.

As the challenges are multi-faceted and cut across portfolios, AVA recommends that a new Assistant Minister for Wellness be created to address the issue on a whole of government basis.

Recommendation 1.1: Australian Government support of $3m over five years to implement programs to address key findings of the Superfriend report on a Veterinary Wellness Strategy.

Recommendation 1.2:  The Australian Government to implement an Assistant Minister for Wellness.