RCVS has published suicide prevention resources to help UK veterinary practices meet the now mandatory requirement to put workplace suicide prevention plans into place.

Since 1 April 2026, the RCVS has required all practices to implement a practice-specific suicide prevention plan.

The requirement includes assessing potential risks within the practice setting and putting in place measures to address and mitigate each identified risk.

The new resources include a suicide prevention guide for all practice staff, a suicide prevention plan checklist, and a practical step by step suicide prevention toolkit for veterinary workplaces.

Further resources, including a recorded webinar, will also be published in due course.

A "Suicide awareness fundamentals" course is also available via the RCVS Academy.

The course supplements the resources by looking at the contributing factors behind suicide in the profession, how to talk about it, reduce stigma, and support those in crisis.

Rapinder Newton, Mind Matters Initiative Lead, said: "These resources are comprehensive and will help veterinary practices not only create plans, but also implement and communicate them with staff, and regularly review them to ensure they're fit for purpose as well as adapt them if needed."

https://www.rcvs.org.uk/veterinary-professionals/mind-matters/resources-and-cpd/suicide-prevention-in-the-veterinary-workplace