Suicide+in+the+Veterinary+Profession+The+Hidden+Reality+Part+Two

Kinsella, Martina. “ Suicide in the Veterinary Profession: The Hidden Reality- Part Two.” //Irish Veterinary Journal.// 59.12 (2006): 704-706. Print.

Risk factors for suicide in veterinary medicine include stressful life events and situations, substance abuse, depression, and access to means of committing suicide. Multiple sources of stress are mentioned into several categories including; workload, client issues, workplace interpersonal relationships, work constraints, and other various outside contributing factors such as financial concerns and physical demands. Substance abuse and the availability of lethal injection are two main risk factors highlighted. Alcohol is the most common substance abuse in the world. It is known to have stress relieving properties. Intoxication can enhance aggressive behavior and for a veterinarian who is already at the point of suffering, suicide can become a very real option to them. With stress, alcohol, and drug abuse being present veterinarians have access to lethal injection medications that could ultimately lead to carry out suicides. I thought it was interesting in this article lethal injection was mentioned. There is a statistic stated that 93% of veterinarians (in a study performed by Kirwan in 2005) would indeed euthanize a human being, in contrast 33% of medical doctors polled said they would. Veterinarians euthanize animals on a regular basis and in this study they are suggesting since there is familiarity there “it may alter the sanctity of human life.” This statement very much intrigues me and I think it will help explain the inside view of veterinary medicine and help tie in my personal experiences to help illustrate the everyday struggles and misconceptions from the outside world.

Kristen Mueller