Peer Support for Veterinary Professionals
NOMV provides peer support to veterinarians, veterinary support staff, and veterinary students through various channels, which you can learn more about below.
Veterinary Mental Health Support
NOMV’s Veterinary Mental Health Support (VMHS) was founded in 2020 to provide mental health support services to the veterinary medicine community. We offer support groups and individual sessions for veterinarians, as well as monthly psychoeducational webinars on topics relevant to mental health in veterinary medicine.
All VMHS services are completely free, confidential, and virtual via a HIPAA-compliant platform. They are led by experienced and understanding doctorate-level facilitators with specialties in depression and anxiety, grief and loss, work-life balance, trauma, and suicide prevention and response.
If you are interested in engaging with our program, or for more information, please email us at VMHS@nomv.org.
Engagement in support sessions through VMHS is not intended to be a substitute or replacement for mental health treatment with a licensed clinician. VMHS does not provide emergency or crisis services, therapy, psychotherapy, or counseling.
Lifeboat
Lifeboat is an anonymous, peer-to-peer, chat-based support platform for members of the veterinary community. We understand veterinary medicine is a busy profession, so this is not a “live” chat support system. Individuals can expect an asynchronous response within approximately 24 hours after sending a message through Lifeboat. Currently, Lifeboat is only able to provide support to those in English.
Lifeboat is not a crisis hotline service and is not a substitute for counseling or mental health treatment. For those in the United States experiencing an emergency, please call 911 or contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline by texting or calling 988. If you’re experiencing an emergency and are outside of the US, please call your country's emergency number.
Forums
NOMV provides peer-to-peer support for the veterinary health community through our international forums. NOMV Vet serves licensed veterinarians in every field. NOMV Support Staff serves veterinary technicians, veterinary technician students, and all veterinary support staff. NOMV Student serves veterinary students.