Research tells us that risk for suicide is 2-3 times higher in veterinarians than in the general population. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many veterinarians reported experiencing depression, but up to a third do not seek treatment. Given the elevated risk in this population, the Columbia Protocol provides a vital way to find people who are suffering in silence where they work, live, and thrive.
The Columbia Protocol is a few simple questions that anyone can ask, from doctors to friends and spouses, that empower individuals and communities to find people who are at risk for suicide, connect them to the care they need and prevent tragedies before they happen. The Columbia Protocol has become the gold standard for suicide risk assessment and is ubiquitous across the US. and the globe. As policy across all 50 states, national agencies, and most countries, it has helped achieve reductions in suicide across all sectors of society.