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Veterinary surgeons and suicide: influences, opportunities and research directions
Author(s) -
Bartram D. J.,
Baldwin D. S.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1136/vr.162.2.36
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , suicide prevention , work (physics) , medicine , health care , population , veterinary medicine , suicide rates , occupational safety and health , psychology , poison control , family medicine , nursing , medical emergency , environmental health , political science , pathology , engineering , mechanical engineering , law
Veterinary surgeons are at high risk of suicide, with a proportional mortality ratio approximately four times that of the general population and around twice that of other health care professions. It is uncertain whether this derives from the characteristics of individuals entering the profession, the nature of the work environment, or other factors known to influence suicide. In this article, David Bartram and David Baldwin present a hypothetical model to explain suicide risk in veterinary surgeons, and argue that research is required to validate the model and to inform the development of appropriate interventions.