The Frequency of Suicide- and Self-Harm–Related Outcomes in Veterinary Professionals

Initial analysis of a large, on-line, anonymous study among veterinarians, veterinary nurses/technicians, and students. This first quantitative study provides descriptive account of suicidal ideation, suicidal behaviour, self-harm, and exposure to suicide within a large sample of veterinary professionals and students. Using anonymous, cross-sectional online survey data, the study estimates prevalence across multiple time windows and examines how these outcomes are distributed across demographic, professional, and employment-related characteristics. The primary aim is to characterise the current epidemiology of suicide-related outcomes in a profession that has undergone substantial demographic and structural change in recent decades, rather than to test explanatory or causal hypotheses. By explicitly examining suicidal ideation, suicidal behaviour, and non-suicidal self-harm, the study establishes a detailed descriptive foundation for subsequent theory-informed analyses.