Peer Support Group
3/6/2025 10:46:38 PM
EASAV Peer Support Group
Should you or anyone you know be contemplating self-harm or suicide, please call 1-833-456-4566 (Canada) or 1-800-273-8255 (USA).
International toll-free numbers for suicide prevention are also available at http://suicide.org/
Are you looking for a formal peer support platform to get some help?
CVMA and ABVTA members can now access Togetherall, an anonymous, digital 24/7/365 platform that is clinically moderated to ensure safety and inclusivity.
- Here, you can connect with a global community of people who are interested in seeking support from and supporting others around stress and mental health.
- In addition, all Canadian veterinarians have an opportunity to connect more directly with others in the veterinary field using this Role-Based Groups peer-to-peer message boards that allow for people with similar roles to connect with each other.
- This is a specific role-based Veterinary Medicine group for those within the veterinary field to connect and share challenges, successes, struggles, and triumphs around their careers and interests.
- CVMA DVM link to find support in a safe, anonymous, online environment.
- ABVTA RVT Link to find support in a safe, anonymous, online environment.
Vin Foundation Vets4Vets: Confidential Wellness Support for the Veterinary Profession
Support4Support by VIN:
Looking for support for veterinary team support staff? Check out this free confidential support program offered by VIN Foundation (no VIN membership needed) which provides one-on-one private sessions for veterinary support staff.
Other support networks include:
Shanti Project
- Their services offer professionally facilitated peer support groups for DVMs & RVTs and one-to-one support sessions for veterinarians.
- All services are completely free, confidential, virtual via a HIPAA-compliant platform, and facilitated by kind and understanding doctorate-level clinicians with specialties in depression and anxiety, grief and loss, work-life balance, trauma, and suicide prevention and response.
- Please note that this USA based that is open to Canadians who are looking for peer support!
Not One More Vet (NOMV) Peer Support Group
Peer support is at the heart of what NOMV does! We have multiple programs for veterinary professionals seeking peer support including our Facebook Forums (which offers informal peer support for Veterinarians, Support Staff, and Students in private groups) and Lifeboat by NOMV (an anonymous, digitally dispersed, peer support network available to all in the veterinary community).
Are you a Canadian DVM or RVT looking for one on one peer support from a colleague? Feel free to call one of our trained peer supporters:
Call one of us by phone:
Dr. Kathy Keil (Alberta): (587) 334-3230
Dr. Nancy Bruyère (Alberta): (780) 674-1754
Dr. Leann Benedetti (Ontario): 1-(705)-791-5312
Dr. Sally Cleland (Saskatchewan): 1-(306) 209-2924
Smokey Walters (AB RVT): (780) 913-3789
Connie Varnhagen (AB RVT): (780) 903-5402
We are not licensed counsellors and are not trained to give guidance on personal, social or psychological problems; we are veterinary professionals helping veterinary professionals and we look forward to helping our fellow peers!
Mental Health Resources
HOMEWOOD HEALTH - SERVICES FOR ABVMA MEMBERS
1-800-663-1142 | TTY: 1-888-384-1152 | International (call collect): 604-689-1717 | homewoodhealth.com
All registered ABVMA members (veterinarians and technologists) are reminded that they (and their families) have access to Homewood Health. Homewood Health provides counselling and other member assistance programs and resources.
This Homewood Health FAQ document provides information on how to access services.
- for ABVMA member mental health support
- call 1-800-663-1142 - Press (1) for immediate crisis support, offered 24/7
- OR visit homewoodhealth.com
- TTY: 1-888-384-1152 | International (call collect): 604-689-1717 | homewoodhealth.com
Social Media
Please do not hesitate to let me know if we can be of help in any way.
Catherine (Katie) Lawlor, Psy.D.
Co-Founder & Director
Veterinary Mental Health Initiative
Dr. Lawlor's Profile
National and International Veterinary Wellbeing Resources, courtesy of Dr. Marie Holowaychuk
Professional Quality of Life (Proqol): Elements, Theory and Measurement
- Compassion Satisfaction & Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, Secondary Traumatic Stress, Vicarious Traumatization & Vicarious Transformation
- Take the Proqol Self Assessment
LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS
Suicide Support: Call 1-833-456-4566 (open 24 hours for calls) or text 45645 (text messages received and returned between 4 pm - 12 am only)
- this is a crisis line for immediate help when in crisis. It connects people to their local crisis centre
Mental Health Hotline Alberta
- mymentalhealth.ca
- 1-877-303-264
Alberta Health Services Crisis/Distress Hotline
- Edmonton: 1-780-342-7777
- Calgary: 403-266-1605
- Anyone in Alberta can call either number. When you or someone you know needs to talk to a mental health therapist (i.e.: distress, talking about self harm, harm to others, suicidal thoughts/words)
211 - Dial 2-1-1 anytime, 24 hrs/day, 7 days/week.
- with 24 hr support to provide resources to help with a stressful situation before it escalates into a crisis
- If calling from outside the 211 service areas (areas listed at http://www.ab.211.ca/communities served)
- Dial either Edmonton: 780-482-4636 OR Calgary: 403-264-3388
- Online Chat available from 12 – 8pm MT daily
- 211 Alberta connects you to social services in your community. They use the inform Alberta database to search available supports for the caller's needs
List of Crisis centres in Alberta
- http://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/need-help/looking-for-local-resources-support/
Alberta Health Services Health Link
- 1-866-408-5465
- talk to a nurse about a mental health or physical concern in person
- 24 hrs/day, 7 days/week
- live person answers this phone
Alberta Mental Health Intake
- 1-780-342-7600
- to book a mental health assessment with an expert; recorded message only
- There is no live person who answers this phone
Mental Health Resources for livestock producers in Canada - domore.ag
Pet Safekeeping Resource Page
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS AND INFORMATION
Mental Health Hotline Alberta – mymentalhealth.ca – 1-877-303-264
Alberta Health Services Crisis/Distress Hotline
- Edmonton: 1-780-342-7777
- Calgary: 403-266-1605
- Anyone in Alberta can call either number. When you or someone you know needs to talk to a mental health therapist (i.e.: distress, talking about self harm, harm to others, suicidal thoughts/words)
211 – 24 hr support to provide resources to help with a stressful situation before it escalates into a crisis.
- Dial 2-1-1 anytime, 24 hrs/day, 7 days/week.
- If calling from outside the 211 service areas (areas listed at http://www.ab.211.ca/communities served), dial either
- Edmonton: 780-482-4636
- Calgary: 403-264-3388
- Online Chat available from 12 – 8pm MT daily
List of Crisis centres in Alberta
- http://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/need-help/looking-for-local-resources-support/
Alberta Health Services Health Link
- 1-866-408-5465
- talk to a nurse about a mental health or physical concern in person
- 24 hrs/day, 7 days/week
- live person answers this phone
Alberta Mental Health Intake
- 1-780-342-7600
- to book a mental health assessment with an expert; recorded message only
- There is no live person who answers this phone
Mental Health Resources for livestock producers in Canada - domore.ag