Objective:

To model the combined contributions of lethal means access, moral stress, and psychopathology to suicide risk among Polish veterinarians using machine learning approaches.

Key Findings:

• 42% of veterinarians exceeded the clinical cut-off for suicide risk.
• 23.7% reported thoughts of using euthanasia drugs on themselves.
• Euthanasia-related ideation was the strongest predictor of suicidal behavior and acquired capability for suicide (β=2.83 for suicidal behavior; β=8.58 for acquired capability, both p<.001).
• Moral stress was associated with age but not directly with suicidality.
• Network analysis indicated a critical link between suicidal thoughts and behavioral capability through euthanasia ideation.

Interpretation:

The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted suicide prevention strategies in the veterinary profession, particularly regarding access to euthanasia drugs and mental health support, which could inform policy changes.

Limitations:

• The study is limited to Polish veterinarians, which may not generalize to other populations.
• Cross-sectional design limits causal inferences.
• Potential biases in self-reported data may affect the findings.

Conclusion:

This study highlights the complex interplay of moral stress, access to lethal means, and mental health in contributing to suicide risk among veterinarians, advocating for profession-specific interventions.