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VetHerd
Dr Kat Williams & Dr Alena Gadoury, Co-Founders & Directors
A suicide prevention program for the veterinary community.
Our Vision: The veterinary community working together as a herd to protect each other from suicide.
You’re never too far away from help. As a national suicide prevention program, we train the veterinary community in suicide intervention with the hope that together, we can help each other in a time of need.
A national program across Australia. Our office is located in Brisbane; however, we support the veterinary community Australia-wide.
Why the name?
Vet = Veterinary
Herd = Community
Ever see a herd of elephants and how they surround their young when there is danger? Or how alpacas are used as guardians to protect the sheep? What about herd immunity, where a large proportion of the community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease such that it protects those who don’t have their own individual immunity? All of these concepts form the basis as to why VetHerd chose its name.
The high rate of suicide in the Australian veterinary community is a complex problem that requires a national response and multisectoral collaboration. Like the animals in a herd protecting each other, we believe that everyone has the responsibility to help keep each other safe from suicide.
Why we do what we do
Empowering Suicide Prevention & Intervention.
VetHerd is an industry-based suicide prevention program for the veterinary industry initiated by two Queensland veterinarians. The high rate of suicide in Australian veterinarians is a complex problem that requires a national response and multisectoral collaboration. We believe an essential part of the solution is a multimodal workplace-based suicide prevention program designed for and by the industry. For this endeavour, VetHerd has so far gained support from MATES in Construction, LivingWorks Australia and the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention.
Our Mission
Awareness: Raising awareness that suicide is preventable, and we all have a role in keeping each other safe from suicide.
Education & Skills Training: Educating and collaborating with veterinary stakeholders, government, the mental health and suicide prevention sectors, and others to create pathways for improving work practices and policies. Delivering evidence-based intervention training, empowering the veterinary community with the skills to support each other to stay safe from suicide.
Community: Nurturing connectedness throughout the veterinary community and championing multisectoral collaboration.
Evidence & Research: Sharing resources and contributing to research. Tailoring existing evidence-based suicide prevention training to best meet the needs of the veterinary community.
Meet the Team
Dr. Alena Gadoury, BScN, BVSc (Hons), Co-Founder & Director
Alena has a diverse multisectoral career ranging from human to animal medicine, business, training and research. She obtained a Bachelor of Nursing in 2006 where she worked as a Registered Nurse in Adult Mental Health and Paediatrics. In 2013, she achieved a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (First Class Hons) from the University of Sydney and worked in small, mixed and emergency settings. Having lived experiences with mental health challenges and suicide has led her to focus on suicide prevention and intervention. Alena’s PhD research focuses on suicide prevention in Australian veterinarians.
Dr. Kat Williams, BVSc (Hons), BPsySc. Co-Founder & Director
Kat graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Hons) from the University of Queensland in 2012. She has worked as a small animal general practitioner and in administration within specialty and emergency teams. As a veterinarian with lived experience of mental health conditions and suicide, Kat developed a passion for veterinary wellbeing. She attained her Bachelor of Psychological Science in 2022 and has presented to the profession on the practical application of psychology for veterinary staff. She has experience in the disability sector within multi-disciplinary teams and strives to build the suicide prevention capacity of individuals and the veterinary community collectively.
Visit the VetHerd website HERE
Testimonials
“I decided I wanted to do ASIST as soon as I learnt about it! Our industry faces high levels of abuse and trauma, and I knew that as an Area Manager, I needed to be equipped to support my teams the best way I could. My ASIST training was put to use only mere weeks after the training. It gave me real life tools to be able to have challenging conversations with people who were struggling with their mental health, and provide the best support I possibly could. ASIST is invaluable to the veterinary industry. It would be my wish that every practice manager would be able to participate in a course like this.”
- Brooke, Area Manager and Vet Nurse
“I decided to become an ASIST caregiver to improve my confidence in suicide intervention. I loved the role play during the training because it made me more comfortable to approach someone I think may be contemplating suicide. If more veterinary staff were ASIST trained, I’m sure it will save lives.”
- Kathryn, Veterinarian and Counsellor
“I attended this suicide prevention course last year, and it was truly great and has been extremely useful. In fact, the skills I learnt have been invaluable. It is run BY people in the veterinary industry specifically FOR people in the veterinary industry. This is, hands down, the BEST and most valuable course I’ve attended in my nursing career.”
-Kelsey, Vet Nurse