Selvmordstanker, avliving av dyr og hjelpsøking for psykiske problemer blant veterinærer i Norge (NORVET-studien)

Erlend Hem fra Legeforskningsinstituttet har vært hovedveileder for Dalum. Reidar Tyssen og Magne Thoresen fra Universitetet i Oslo, medisinsk fakultet, har vært medveiledere. Dalum disputerte i juni 2023.

Summary
Veterinarians have elevated suicide rates. There is scarce knowledge about variables associated with suicidal thoughts in veterinarians. The NORVET study is the first to investigate suicidal thoughts and help-seeking for mental health problems among veterinarians in Norway. A nationwide survey was distributed to licensed veterinarians. 75 % responded.

The 12-month prevalence of suicidal feelings, suicidal thoughts and serious suicidal thoughts were 27 %, 20 % and 5 %, respectively. This is higher than reported in similar surveys conducted among physicians and police. 30 % reported mental health problems in need of treatment. The veterinarians themselves most commonly reported work problems as contributing to both serious suicidal thoughts and mental health problems.

A novel finding in our study was an association between animal euthanasia and serious suicidal thoughts. Even though animal euthanasia has been suggested as a veterinary-specific risk factor for suicide, work variables alone does not explain such a complex phenomenon as suicidal thoughts among veterinarians.

We also investigated attitudes to assisted dying in humans. Overall, veterinarians’ attitudes to assisted dying in humans were comparable to those of the general population. Veterinarians working in companion animal practice had higher odds of positive attitudes to euthanasia in humans compared to veterinarians working in mixed clinical practice. This may suggest that animal euthanasia could affect veterinarians’ attitudes to death.

Only half of veterinarians with mental health problems had sought help. Among those with serious suicidal thoughts, half had sought help. The only independent variable associated with less help-seeking behaviour was working in production animal practice.

Du finner hele avhandlingen hos Universitetet i Oslo.

Avhandlingen består av følgende tre artikler:

1. Prevalence and individual and work-related factors associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviours among veterinarians in Norway: a cross-sectional, nationwide survey-based study (the NORVET study) . BMJ Open

2. Professional help-seeking behaviour for mental health problems among veterinarians in Norway: a nationwide, cross-sectional study (The NORVET study) - BMC Public Health

3. 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

Aktuelle saker om NORVET:

1. Selvmordsatferd og hjelpsøking blant leger og veterinærer - TIdsskriftet.no

2. Selvmordstanker, eutanasi av dyr og hjelpsøking blant veterinærer i Norge – en landsdekkende spørreundersøkelse (NORVET-prosjektet) - Norsk veterinærtidsskrift