Firebrand Aussie senator exposes the silent epidemic killing some of Australia’s most essential and trusted workers

An outspoken Australian senator and former vet has highlighted the alarming number of vets committing suicide.

One Nation MP Sarah Game told Daily Mail Australia that vets are four times more likely to die by suicide compared to the rest of the population.

Ms Game is calling for an investigation into this alarming statistic and to find out why so many vets are leaving the sector en masse.

She also wants to ‘bust’ the myth that vets commit suicide simply because they are ‘compassionate’ and become ‘very stressed and exhausted from dealing with sick animals’ – when in fact there is a wider problem with the veterinary industry..

Ms Game is calling for an investigation into this alarming statistic and to find out why so many vets are leaving the sector en masse.

“We need to look at why these very intelligent, very resilient people who survived school survived the pressure of getting good grades in school, and survived [obtaining] a very demanding education and yet they end up in the profession, and many of them leave,” she said.

‘I understand that’s almost half [of veterinarians] wanting to leave at any time, and many of those left are not happy – and we also have the extreme end, which is people committing suicide at a high rate.”

Ms Game said vets receive an average salary of between $80,000 and $100,000, which is disproportionate to the long, intense hours they work.

A University of Adelaide study found that vets who worked between 40 and 50 hours a week were paid just $60,000 a year.

“I’m not a vet anymore, and I certainly understand that vet bills are difficult for people, especially in the cost of living crisis we’re in right now,” she said.

“But the reality is that the vet you see does not have a high salary.”

Ms Game’s proposed inquiry would investigate why veterinary bills are so high while salaries are so low, and what compensation vets should receive.

The investigation has the support of the parents of Sophie Putland, a 33-year-old vet from Victoria who committed suicide after being brutally abused by an angry pet owner.

Ms Game’s proposed investigation has the support of the parents of Sophie Putland, a 33-year-old vet from Victoria who committed suicide after being brutally abused by an angry owner.

Garry and Kate Putland launched Sophie’s Legacy to raise awareness of the pressure vets face caring for people’s sick animals.

Ms Game said she would like to see a rating system implemented that rates veterinary workplaces on how well they look after the mental wellbeing of employees.

‘That should encourage workplaces to say: ‘We are a healthy working environment. We take care of our pets, but we also take care of our veterinarians,” she said.

According to the Australian Veterinary Association, veterinarians have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession, at about four times the national average.

Veterinarians commit suicide at twice the rate of other healthcare professionals, such as doctors and dentists.

‘You are actually dealing with a professional who is under high workload, pressure and stress and many people do not know that.

‘The reason why people choose [veterinary medicine] like me, because it’s associated with a wonderful, happy industry that deals with saving animals.

‘And the awareness of the stress of the profession is not well known.’

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