Submission: WA Suicide Prevention Framework 2026-2031

The AVA has provided a submission to the Western Australian Mental Health Commission on the Draft WA Suicide Prevention Framework 2026-2031.

The submission highlights the elevated risk of psychological distress and suicide within the veterinary profession and calls for stronger recognition of occupational factors in suicide prevention policy. Key recommendations include:

• Explicitly recognising occupational and professional settings as priority environments for suicide prevention.

• Partnering with professional associations, such as the AVA, to co-design workplace prevention initiatives.

• Supporting and scaling existing workforce wellbeing programs, including the AVA’s THRIVE and Cultivating Safe Teams initiatives.

• Strengthening alignment between suicide prevention efforts and psychosocial hazard regulations under WorkSafe WA.

• Improving suicide data collection to capture occupational and workplace factors.

The AVA commends the Commission’s whole-of-community approach and stands ready to collaborate in developing and delivering effective prevention strategies across high-risk professions.

Read AVA's submission here.