VN September 2020

Vetnews | September 2020 27 World Suicide Prevention Day will be commemorated on 10 September 2020 to promote worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides. Statistics fromtheSouthAfricanGovernment indicate that on average, almost 3 000 people commit suicide worldwide daily. It is no secret to any veterinarian that numbers of veterinarians committing suicide are incredibly high and many of you might know a fellow veterinarian that has done so or considered taking their own lives. Studies have been done specifically on the field of veterinary science to determine why numbers are so high. Some suggestions include long working hours, compassion fatigue, views on euthanasia and access to scheduled drugs. Although these all do play a role, along with many other factors, there are two aspects I would like to highlight today. Number one is having the hope that life is worth living. Many people that consider suicide have reached a point in their lives where they feel that their pain and circumstances are of such an extent that they have no quality of life left and that life is not worth living. I can understand the despair that can accompany a situation like this. But I do want you to know, that there is hope even though you cannot see it yet. The only thing that can stop you fromhaving a life worth living – is not living. It may seem like death is the only relief or a way out, but that is just simply not true. If you do not agree with me, I encourage you to read up on the life of Dr Marsha Linehan. When she looks back on her life, she reports that shewas inadarkpit of hell and theworld, her family and the mental health system all gave up on her and waited for her to commit to suicide. She, however, decided to walk her journey and was closing in on two seemingly opposed principles that could form the basis of a life worth living: acceptance of life as it is, not as it is supposed to be; and the need to change, despite that reality and because of it. Number two is to reach out and find help. You might feel alone in a pit, surrounded by darkness and unable to climb out yourself. There are many hands, including mine, that wants to reach down that pit and help you to climb out. Maybe you tried before, and it did not work. Maybe family and/or the system failed you many times: possibly even hurt you more. Reflecting onmy own journey as a therapist I know I havemademistakes; I have a lot more to learn and I am not perfect. But what I do know I have, is hope and the absolute best heart intention to impart that to others. If one hand was not able to help you out of the pit, PLEASE, reach out again and again. You are worthy of a live worth living. This September I challenge you to new life. Radically accept the things you cannot change and at the very same time - fight to have the life you can enjoy living. Find out more about how to prevent a suicide and where to get help at: • SAVA Stress Management Hotline – phone one of your colleagues and chat to her/him • Lifeline o Helpline: 0861-322-322 • The South African Depression and Anxiety Support Group(link is external) o Helpline: 0800 21 22 23 (8am to 8pm) o Helpline: 0800 12 13 14 (8pm to 8am) o SMS 31393 • The South African DBT institute o www.dbtinstitute.co.za Carien (Carien Human is a psychologist in Johannesburg). v Vet's Health I Carien Carien Human Suicide Prevention Ken Pettey: 082 882 7356, ken.pettey@up.ac.za Tod Collins: 083 350 1662, collins@nudvet.co.za Aileen Pypers: 072 599 8737, aileen.vet@gmail.com Willem Schultheiss: 082 323 7019, willem.schultheiss@ceva.com Nico Schutte: 023 626 3516, doknico@tiscali.co.za Ian Alleman: 072 558 4883, accommodation@nieu-bethesda.com Ellené Kleyn: 082 881 8661, elly1@mweb.co.za Mike Lowry: 084 581 2624, mikelowry@sai.co.za The following SAVA members are available on the SAVA stress management hotline. The SAVA Stress Management Hotline 24-Hour, Toll-Free Helpline: 0800 21 21 21