Clancy Martin tried dying by suicide more than a dozen times. Using what he learned from those attempts, the philosophy professor with the University of Missouri-Kansas City wrote a new book, How Not to Kill Yourself, A Portrait of the Suicidal Mind. It can be helpful for anyone, but given the high rate of suicide in the veterinary profession, the book can be a lifesaver for veterinary pros.
The Centers for Disease Control has documented one in six veterinarians has considered suicide. Male vets are 1.6 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population and female vets are 2.4 more times more likely. Eighty percent of vets are women. Link.
Source: Fresh Air, April 5, 2023. Link. (42-minute listen) “So much of what drives the suicidal mind is the stigma of suicide, the shame of suicide, of having made an attempt of being afraid to reach out for help, of being afraid to talk to someone else,” Martin explains.
. . . the more we can talk about suicide openly, the more suicidal people we can help.” – Clancy Martin
INSIGHTS: It is worth hearing all of this recording to get the full context of Martin’s recommendations. The highlights of the conversation presented in the partial transcript cover only a few points. If you or someone you know may need help or be considering suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Link.