Helping veterinary staff members cope with suicide

A new resource is available to help veterinary staff members cope with the aftermath of an employee’s suicide.

“After a Suicide: A Guide for Veterinary Workplaces,” released in September during National Suicide Prevention Month, is the work of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the AVMA in partnership with the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, and the Veterinary Medical Association Executives.

“Supporting veterinary medical professionals in the aftermath of a colleague’s suicide is vital. Because suicide loss survivors can develop significant grief and even physical and mental health issues if not appropriately supported, postvention is a critical step and is actually part of suicide prevention,” said AFSP Chief Medical Officer Christine Moutier, MD, in a press release. “The appropriate handling of the aftermath of a suicide in a veterinary office can pave the way for a workplace culture that is smart about mental health.”

Developed by experts in veterinary medicine and suicide prevention and survivors of suicide loss in the veterinary medical community, the guide includes the following:

• Best practices for how workplace leaders and staff members should respond in the immediate aftermath of a suicide.
• Guidance on helping the workplace community grieve and cope in the short and long term.
• Tips on working with the media and community partners.
• Important information on how to safely memorialize employees and to identify and support members of the community who may be vulnerable and reduce the risk of suicide contagion.

“The guide will ensure that our members and their teams get the critical support they need in the event of a colleague’s suicide death, and help to prevent future deaths by suicide,” AVMA President Dr. Douglas Kratt said in the release.

Managers who have had to support and comfort employees in the wake of such a tragedy understand the importance of offering grief counseling and other actions to support employees, according to VHMA President Michelle Gonzales-Bryant. “‘After A Suicide: A Guide for Veterinary Workplaces’ is a valuable management resource and much-needed guide because it provides comprehensive, empathetic, and step-by-step responses to these devastating and heartbreaking events,” Gonzales-Bryant said.

Last year, the AFSP, AVMA, and Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges released, “After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Colleges of Veterinary Medicine.”