Section 2: Roles, responsibilities and boundaries

The purpose of this section is to: 

• Define the role of the responsible person for suicide prevention
• Set clear expectations for managers and supervisors
• Empower all staff to respond proportionately to concerns
• Establish clear boundaries around what staff are and are not expected to do 

This creates clarity, reduces confusion, and ensures that staff feel supported and able to contribute to suicide prevention without overstepping professional or ethical boundaries

The Responsible Person is the individual accountable for overseeing suicide prevention in the veterinary workplace. This is typically the Practice Manager or Owner. Key responsibilities of the Responsible Person include: 

• Developing and maintaining a written Suicide Prevention Policy
• Ensuring all required systems and procedures are in place and communicated to staff
• Appointing and supporting managers and supervisors in their responsibilities
• Ensuring access to mental health support resources and external services
• Overseeing staff training and competency
• Managing escalation and intervention processes
• Ensuring confidentiality and data protection protocols
• Reviewing and updating procedures annually, or following incidents

Managers and supervisors play a critical role in creating a supportive culture and responding to concerns. They are expected to: 

• Model positive mental health and help-seeking behaviour
• Foster psychological safety and open communication in their team
• Be alert to signs of distress and respond proportionately and with compassion
• Facilitate access to support, including signposting to external services
• Listen without judgment and maintain confidentiality
• Document concerns and escalate appropriately
• Participate in suicide prevention training and continuous learning 

Note: Managers and supervisors are NOT expected to diagnose mental health conditions or provide therapeutic interventions. Their role is to support, listen, and signpost to appropriate professional help.

All staff, regardless of role, are expected to: 

• Treat mental health with the same seriousness as physical health
• Look out for colleagues who may be struggling and approach them with compassion
• Listen without judgment if a colleague discloses concerns
• Signpost colleagues to available support and resources
• Respect confidentiality and not gossip about colleagues’ wellbeing
• Participate in training and upskilling on suicide prevention 

Note: Staff are empowered to take action and support colleagues. Suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility, but it does not require staff to become mental health experts.

Staff ARE expected to: 

• Show care, concern, and compassion to a colleague who is struggling
• Listen actively and without judgment
• Encourage the person to seek professional help
• Signpost to appropriate resources (helplines, counselling, occupational health, GP)
• Keep the person’s disclosure confidential (unless there is immediate risk) Staff ARE NOT expected to:
• Diagnose or assess mental health conditions
• Provide therapy or counselling
• Take sole responsibility for managing someone at risk
• Access someone’s medical records or personal information without consent
• Continue supporting a person if it is affecting their own wellbeing
• Promise or guarantee confidentiality if there is immediate risk of harm 

Clear boundaries protect both the person at risk and the staff member offering support. It is important that staff understand they are not responsible for ‘saving’ a colleague; rather, they are responsible for listening, signposting, and escalating appropriately.