It’s the topic in veterinary science that we wish we didn’t have to talk about. Every time we hear about another veterinary suicide, we feel sad, angry, and frustratingly powerless. But in this conversation with Dr. Kat Williams and Dr. Alena Gadoury, you’ll be inspired to take back the power to act against this curse of our profession.

Drs. Kat and Alena are the founders of VetHerd, an industry-based suicide prevention program for the veterinary profession. VetHerd utilizes the collective power of our community to create a robust safety net to combat the alarming rates of veterinary suicide through collaboration, awareness, and education.

You’ll learn about 'Mates in Construction,' the inspiration for the program, the parallels between ‘herd immunity’ and mental health, why it’s essential for all of us to learn how to talk openly and bravely about suicide, and how to get better at it.
Register for VetHerd’s upcoming two-day ASIST suicide prevention workshop, sponsored by Flynn’s Walk, here, or contact Kat and Alena at kat@vetherd.com.au or alena@vetherd.com.au to find out how you can get involved.

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Episode Topics and Timestamps

00:00 Introducing VetHerd: A Vision for Community and Protection
06:19 Drawing Inspiration from Mates in Construction
08:32 Addressing the Mental Health Crisis in the Veterinary Industry
11:51 Exploring the Complex Causes of High Suicide Rates Among Veterinarians
20:44 The ASIST Model: A Framework for Suicide Prevention
28:41 Exploring the Model for Safety Planning
29:22 Community Involvement and Support
29:40 Addressing Responsibility and Training Needs
30:32 Practical Training and Its Importance
32:08 Overcoming the Fear of Discussing Suicide
33:46 The Power of Asking, and Community Support
34:48 Training Opportunities and Industry Support
42:37 Personal Insights and Podcast Recommendations
45:14 Funding Challenges and Industry Contributions
50:36 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

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