Suicidal ideation and behavior in veterinary practitioners in Poland. A cross-sectional national survey and network analysis

Study Preregistration: Project Description This study aims to investigate the psychological, occupational, and contextual factors contributing to suicide risk among veterinary professionals, with a particular focus on two underexplored but critical variables: moral stress related to euthanasia and occupational access to euthanasia drugs. Veterinarians experience disproportionately high rates of suicide compared to the general population, yet the specific mechanisms underlying this elevated risk remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on the ideation-to-action framework and the Three-Step Theory (3ST) of suicide, the project is designed to explore how distinct predictors influence both suicidal ideation and the progression to suicidal behavior. The project utilizes a nationwide, cross-sectional survey of licensed veterinarians in Poland. The survey includes validated psychometric instruments assessing depression, anxiety, burnout, substance use, resilience, social support, and suicidal behavior, as well as novel single-item and composite indices measuring occupational strain, moral stress, and ideation involving euthanasia drugs. Advanced statistical methods, including machine learning and network analysis, will be employed to identify key predictors and interrelationships among variables. Expected outcomes include: Precise identification of psychological and occupational predictors of suicidal ideation and capability. Empirical validation of the link between ideation involving euthanasia drugs and increased suicide risk. Insight into the role of moral stress as an age- and experience-related factor distinct from clinical psychopathology. Development of a predictive model of suicidality in veterinarians that can inform tailored intervention strategies. This study is expected to generate actionable insights for policy and practice, particularly around means restriction, institutional mental health support, and ethics-based training. By addressing a significant knowledge gap, the findings aim to guide evidence-based suicide prevention strategies tailored to the veterinary profession.