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.
Individual Support Sessions
VMHS offers free, confidential, one-hour individual sessions with trained clinicians who have experience working with veterinary professionals. Sessions can be scheduled based on your availability, and participants may receive up to eight individual sessions per calendar year. These sessions are not therapy or counseling. They are designed to provide a supportive space for processing experiences, developing evidence-based coping skills, and identifying strategies that support wellbeing.
To get started, please complete our confidential online registration and consent form. Once your registration is received, a VMHS facilitator will contact you directly to schedule your first session.
Process & Psychoeducational Groups
VMHS also offers free and confidential process and psychoeducational groups throughout the month. After completing the consent form, you can select the group you would like to attend and receive information about the upcoming schedule. Please note that you will need to complete the registration process for each (or series) group you wish to attend.
All VMHS services are completely free, confidential, and virtual via a HIPAA-compliant platform. They are led by experienced and understanding level facilitators with specialties in depression and anxiety, grief and loss, work-life balance, trauma, and suicide prevention and response. These sessions are not therapy or counseling.
If you are interested in engaging with our program please complete this consent form for either individual or group sessions, 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.
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.
Lifeboat
Lifeboat is currently not accepting new participants. We appreciate your patience while we evolve this program, and we understand that access to support is important. You may continue to seek opportunities for peer connection and support through other NOMV programs. For more information, please email lifeboat@nomv.org.
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.