On the 29th June 2024 a group of twelve veterinary nurses and veterinarians from Cromwell Veterinary Group, Cambridgeshire, will be taking on the 9 Edge Challenge in aid of Vetlife. This challenge takes on nine peaks in the Peak District, starting from Ladybower Reservoir then leading along the edges of Derwent, Stanage, Upper and Lower Burbage, Froggat, Curbar, Baslow, Gardoms, and Birchen to Robin Hood.

Vetlife is an independent charity with the aim is to create a veterinary community with high levels of physical and mental wellbeing. They support this aim by providing help to the veterinary community and their families who have emotional, health or financial concerns, whilst seeking ways to prevent such situations in the future. The three main services Vetlife provides are a 24hour helpline, health support and financial support.

The veterinary community continues to experience significantly higher levels of depression and suicide than the general population. A study from 2012 on veterinary mental health showed that participants were too ashamed and felt guilty to share their struggles and 75.5% would rather remain silent than let anyone know of their suffering. Nearly 70% of veterinarians have lost a colleague to suicide. And the statistics go on, highlighting the mental health crisis the industry is currently facing. A studying on veterinary nurses found that nearly three-quarters (70%) of respondents had personally experienced a mental health concern and only half had received professional support for their concern. Over eight in 10 (82%) said that they thought veterinary nursing was a stressful career. Veterinarians are three to four times more likely to die from suicide than the general public. Compared to the general population, there is evidence of elevated psychological distress in the veterinary profession with higher levels of:

Anxiety

Depressive symptoms

Suicidal thoughts

Suicide risk

By promoting Vetlife, we promote to friends, families, colleagues and clients, that we are more predisposed to ill mental health due to the critical paradox, emotional and physical distress, complaints, long hours.. and the list goes on! We also remind peers that it’s ok not to be ok and seek help.

Thank you for reading this message and bringing awareness to the veterinary industry mental health crisis. Please support us and help support the veterinary community.