Supporting suicide prevention in veterinary workplaces

In this extended episode, we explore an issue that matters deeply across the veterinary professions: suicide prevention.

Please note: this episode will be centred around suicide. Please remember that if you are impacted by anything discussed, help is available. You can contact veterinary mental health charity, Vetlife, who have a confidential helpline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week as well as an email service. You can also contact charities outside of the veterinary sector such as Samaritans and Papyrus – details for all of which can be found below.

From the new 2026 Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) requirements - requiring all practices (including small animal, farm and equine) to have a suicide prevention plan in place - to practical steps practices can take right now, this conversation is all about making support more visible, conversations less intimidating, and workplaces safer for everyone.

You’ll hear thoughtful insights from experts working across the field, alongside real examples of how leadership, training, and culture can make a meaningful difference. We also talk about the role of stigma, what good prevention planning actually looks like, and why talking openly about mental health is such an important part of protecting people.

Speakers:

Angharad Belcher – RCVS Director for the Advancement of the Professions, and Mind Matters Initiative

Alice Duvernois MRCVS – RCVS Lead PSS Assessor

Peter Kelly – senior psychologist and leading suicide prevention expert

Dr Rosie Allister MRCVS – consultant manager for Vetlife helpline and suicide prevention and mental health researcher

James Glass MRCVS – suicide prevention researcher

What we cover in this episode

• Why suicide prevention is now part of the Practice Standards Scheme (PSS)

• How practices can approach the new requirements without feeling overwhelmed

• What an effective suicide prevention plan should include

• The role of leadership, team culture, and psychological safety

• Why access to means, trauma exposure, and organisational support all matter

• How to talk about suicide responsibly and reduce stigma

• Practical resources, training, and support available to veterinary teams

Resources

• Vetlife

• Samaritans

• Papyrus

• RCVS Mind Matters suicide prevention in the veterinary workplace – links to the RCVS suicide prevention toolkit for veterinary workplaces - a practical guide to meeting the PSS suicide prevention standard and related suicide prevention requirements in UK veterinary workplaces.

• RCVS Academy courses – free to access for veterinary professionals, including 'Suicide awareness fundamentals'.

• Vetlife suicide postvention guidance

• British Standard BS 30480 on Workplace Suicide Prevention

• RCVS Mind Matters applied mental health science series guides

• Samaritans media guidelines for responsible reporting on suicide

• World Health Organisation (WHO) suicide prevention

• RCVS Mind Matters reasonable adjustments campaign

• The Integrated Motivational-Volitional (IMV) Model of Suicidal Behaviour

• Time, Space, Compassion- supporting people experiencing suicidal crisis: introductory guide – Scottish Government

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to the podcast and focus on suicide prevention in veterinary

05:45 - Explanation of the RCVS Practice Standard Scheme (PSS) and its levels

16:23 - What constitutes a suicide prevention plan and how to implement it effectively

23:57 - The critical role of leadership, culture, and open conversations

33:06 - Other available resources: Vetlife, RCVS Academy courses, RCVS Mind Matters guides and other support

41:32 - The importance of responsible discourse and avoiding stigmatisation

49:54 - Models like IMV (O’Connor, 2011) to understand the complexities of suicidal behaviour

55:08 - The role of leadership and organisational culture in prevention

66:29 - Tips for fostering a safety culture where mental health challenges can be openly discussed

75:38 - Closing remarks: resources, upcoming events, and CPD recognition