Meeting the new RCVS requirements for Suicide Prevention Plans
Suicide and mental health crisis are not abstract risks in veterinary practice. The RCVS has recognised this by now requiring every veterinary practice to have a formal Suicide Prevention Plan in place.
What does this mean for workplace teams on the ground? We’ve partnered with experts in suicide prevention to offer practical how-to training for veterinary leaders and team members in this critical area.
Kevin Moore is Co-Founder of Big Dog Little Dog (part of the National Suicide Prevention Alliance) and a Mental Health First Aid Trainer. Sherry Adams is a Psychotherapist specialising in suicide prevention, a Samaritans Branch Director, and CEO of Kelly’s Heroes, a mental health awareness and suicide prevention charity.
Mr Moore said, “This is about putting in the safety and care required beyond your risk assessment. What types of things to put into a suicide prevention plan, and the suicide first aid measures that really have an impact.”
Hosted by Clarity’s Director, Hannah Perrin, the two-part workshop will cover the practical aspects of researching, writing, communicating, and implementing a Suicide Prevention Plan for veterinary practices. It is aimed at practice leaders and staff with responsibility for people, health and wellbeing in their teams.
Dr Perrin said, “We aim to empower and equip practice leaders to not only meet the regulatory requirements, but genuinely protect their teams and build healthier practice cultures by taking a systems perspective.”
Part One (on 28th May) of the workshop will cover the measures that should go into a Suicide Prevention Plan, including practical and emotional suicide risk factors in the veterinary sector; prevention, intervention, and postvention; and support organisations. Attendees will then have homework to complete by researching their own practice and its risk factors, and carrying out their own workplace risk assessment. Part Two (on 8th June) will then bring everything together to review research and finalise attendees’ Plans; and finally discussing how to implement, review and refresh Plans so that they remain relevant and useful.
Registration is open now: https://clarity-pro.co.uk/product/suicide-prevention-workshop/. We are operating an honesty fee scheme for this workshop – the fee is whatever each practice charges for a standard first consultation. If this doesn’t apply, we’re happy for attendees to pay the equivalent of an initial consult fee, or whatever they think is fair. Proceeds will be donated to three suicide prevention charities.
The Samaritans are available to listen 24/7 on 116123. The Vetlife helpline is available on 0303 040 2551.