How many of us have dreamt of being a vet? Spending your days looking after our beloved furry friends sounds like an idyllic way to spend your working life, but our new ‘We’re only human’ campaign reveals a much darker reality.
Veterinarians are four times more likely to take their own lives than the general population, with climbing rates of client abuse, compassion fatigue and the stress of euthanizing animals, all taking an incredible toll on their mental health and wellbeing.
The campaign is part of Sophie’s Legacy, an education and awareness program created by Garry and Kate Putland in honor of their veterinarian daughter Sophie, who tragicaly lost her life to suicide in 2021.
Featuring a picture of Dr Lauren Bielby, a SASH veterinarian, the posters have been distributed to clinics around the country to remind us all that the people who dedicate themselves to looking after our pets are only human after all.
The posters feature a QR code that directs people to the Sophie’s Legacy website where they are asked to pledge that they will treat veterinary staff with kindness and respect. Just days after the launch of ‘We’re Only Human’, thousands of pledges were received from across the country.
The campaign has received national and international attention with Sophie’s story featuring on ABC news, The Panel and the Daily Mail.
