Helene Seljenes Dalum recently completed her doctorate at IMB, taking a significant step toward unraveling the underlying causes of veterinarians experiencing suicidal thoughts. Her research delves into a critical issue that has long plagued the veterinary profession.

An earlier Norwegian study, spanning from 1960 to 2000, shed light on a disturbing statistic: the suicide rate among veterinarians was twice that of the general population during that period.

Dalum's extensive research, known as the NORVET project, revealed a distressing link between euthanizing animals and the prevalence of serious suicidal thoughts among veterinarians. This groundbreaking study was recently published in the journal BMC Psychiatry.

To collect data, Dalum extended an invitation to all veterinarians in Norway to participate in a comprehensive questionnaire. Remarkably, she received responses from approximately 2,600 veterinarians, representing an impressive 75% of those contacted.

The notion that euthanizing animals might be a risk factor for suicide among veterinarians is not new. Studies conducted in various countries have consistently shown that veterinarians find euthanasia emotionally distressing, leading to moral strain and work-related stress. However, Dalum's research has now unveiled a startling correlation between euthanasia and suicidal thoughts, marking a crucial discovery that warrants further investigation.

As a veterinarian herself, Dalum emphasizes the need to validate this link through additional studies. Euthanasia, or assisted dying, is a process that veterinarians often encounter in their profession. It involves ending an animal's life, either at the owner's request or due to health reasons.

While euthanasia for humans remains illegal in Norway, it remains a topic of ongoing debate. Attitudes towards euthanasia for humans may offer insights into people's perspectives on death.

Notably, Dalum's study found that veterinarians specializing in family pets exhibited more positive attitudes towards euthanasia for humans than their counterparts in other veterinary fields. This intriguing observation highlights the complex relationship veterinarians have with euthanasia.

The distressing statistics in Dalum's research reveal the challenges veterinarians face. Nearly 30% of veterinarians in Norway have experienced moments where life did not seem worth living in the past year. A worrying 5% have grappled with serious suicidal thoughts, and shockingly, 1 in 500 veterinarians has attempted suicide.

The underlying reasons for the disproportionately high suicide rate among veterinarians have remained largely unexplored until now. The NORVET study now suggests that euthanizing animals may represent a significant risk factor within this professional group.

Several studies have previously indicated that veterinarians receive insufficient training in handling emotionally demanding clinical situations, particularly euthanasia. The fact that mental health is now gaining prominence within the veterinary community is undoubtedly a positive development, as noted by Dalum.

The findings of Helene Seljenes Dalum's research serve as a sobering wake-up call, highlighting the urgent need for increased awareness and support for the mental well-being of veterinarians who dedicate their lives to caring for animals and their owners.

More information: Helene Seljenes Dalum et al, Euthanasia of animals—association with veterinarians' suicidal thoughts and attitudes towards assisted dying in humans: a nationwide cross-sectional survey (the NORVET study), BMC Psychiatry (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05402-7

Suicidal thoughts, animal euthanasia, and help-seeking among veterinarians in Norway: a nationwide and cross-sectional survey (The NORVET study). www.duo.uio.no/handle/10852/102549