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Suicide among veterinary surgeons
- David J. Bartram MRCVS, David S. Baldwin FRCPsych, Reader in Psychiatry (13 July 2008)
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David J. Bartram MRCVS, Research Assistant Division of Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, David S. Baldwin FRCPsych, Reader in Psychiatry
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d.bartram{at}soton.ac.uk David J. Bartram MRCVS, et al.
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Meltzer et al (1) report an elevated mortality by suicide among health professionals, especially female veterinary surgeons (PMR=609, 95% CI 198-1422), and call for investigations into depression and suicidal ideation in veterinarians. Their observations are in keeping with the results of previous studies which consistently report an elevated suicide risk among veterinarians(2-4). There has been much speculation regarding possible mechanisms underlying increased suicide risk in the profession, but little empirical research. We have devised a hypothetical model to explain the elevated risk among veterinarians (5) and tests of this model are under way. In late 2007, questionnaires were mailed to a random stratified sample of 3200 veterinary surgeons practising in the UK. The questionnaire included a number of published validated scales and a series of questions on stressors more specific to the profession, using a comprehensive approach with measures of positive mental health and work-home interaction and identifying sources of pleasure in veterinary work, in addition to indicators of psychological morbidity. The questionnaire was returned by 1796 participants, a response rate of 56.1%. The demographic and occupational profile of respondents and estimation of non-response bias allow some confidence in the reliability and generalisability of the study findings to the wider profession. Compared to the general population, the sample reported higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms; higher 12-month prevalence of suicidal thoughts; less favourable psychosocial working conditions, especially in regard to demands and managerial support; lower levels of positive mental well-being; and higher levels of negative work-home interaction. They drink more frequently than the general population, but consume less on a typical drinking day and a have a prevalence of daily and weekly binge- drinking that is similar to the general population. This cross-sectional evidence that veterinary surgeons report higher levels of psychological distress suggests their higher suicide rate is not entirely associated with access to and knowledge of means of harm. David J. Bartram MRCVS David S. Baldwin FRCPsych Clinical Neuroscience Division, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, RSH Hospital, Southampton SO14 0YG Correspondence: d.bartram@soton.ac.uk 1. Meltzer H, Griffiths C, Brock A, Rooney C, Jenkins R. Patterns of suicide by occupation in England and Wales: 2001-2005. Br J Psychiatry 2008; 193, 73-76 2. Kelly S, Bunting J. Trends in suicide in England and Wales, 1982- 96. Popul Trends 1998;(92):29-41. 3. Charlton J. Trends and patterns in suicide in England and Wales. Int J Epidemiol 1995; 24 Suppl 1:S45-S52. 4. Mellanby RJ. Incidence of suicide in the veterinary profession in England and Wales. Vet Rec 2005; 157(14):415-417. 5. Bartram DJ, Baldwin DS. Veterinary surgeons and suicide: influences, opportunities and research directions. Vet Rec 2008; 162(2):36 -40. |
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