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Chamber and committees

Commending Borders Vets Fundraising to Tackle Suicide in the Profession

  • Submitted by: Christine Grahame, Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party.
  • Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2024
  • Motion reference: S6M-14748

That the Parliament recognises the fundraising efforts of four vets, three of whom are based in the Borders branches of Galedin Vets, to benefit the charities Vetlife and the Canmore Trust, which provide support and a community for those impacted by suicide in the industry; notes that Maria Mylne, Mary Hall, Callum McRoberts and Chris Burn are currently undertaking a 1,189-mile cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats in memory of their friend and colleague, Kirsty, also Chris’s partner, who took her own life, with them having set off on 23 September 2024 and due to finish on 18 October; understands that Kirsty was a dedicated vet who, amongst many other achievements, was the first and only winner of consecutive employee of the month awards at her place of work; notes that Vetlife has said that vets in the UK are three to four times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, making this profession a particularly at-risk group; commends those involved for their efforts; supports the message that suicide is not inevitable, and shares the desire to break the cycle of suicide and keep building suicide safer communities.


Supported by: Karen Adam, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Stephanie Callaghan, Alex Cole-Hamilton, Sharon Dowey, Jackie Dunbar, Annabelle Ewing, Joe FitzPatrick, Kenneth Gibson, Emma Harper, Clare Haughey (Registered interest) , Bill Kidd, Fulton MacGregor, Rona Mackay, Ruth Maguire, Stuart McMillan, Audrey Nicoll, Alex Rowley, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney, David Torrance, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White