Welcome to the EASAV Member Peer Support Group Page!

ANNOUNCING OUR NEW MEETING LOCATION:

The group now meets on the second Wednesday of each month at the 

VCA Mayfield Animal Hospital from 7 - 9 pm!

Address: 16808 106 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5P 4Z3

Q: Who are these meetings for?                                                 

A: For EASAV member veterinarians who are searching for peer support with issues such as: 

• stress

• work-life balance

• work challenges

• personal problems

• communication issues, etc. 

Do you have a question for one of our facilitators? Contact them confidentially at easavpeers@gmail.com.

One of this program’s basic principles is that of confidentiality. Meetings will be kept confidential; those present will be asked not to disclose to anyone whom we see or what we hear while at the meetings.

Each session is co-facilitated by 1-2 long-time EASAV members, Drs. Martin Schiebel and/or Nancy Bruyere and/or Smokey Walters, our Executive Assistant.  

We are not licensed counsellors and are not trained to give guidance on personal, social or psychological problems; we are veterinarians helping veterinarians and we look forward to helping our fellow members!

Not an EASAV member, but seeking support?  If you are a veterinarian registered with the AbVMA, we welcome you to purchase a membership with us so that you can attend our meetings! Please contact our Executive Assistant, Smokey at info@easav.ca or call (780)970-3728 if you have any questions.

If you not a registered veterinarian and are looking for mental health support, please go to our website and look under Community Connections > Peer Support Group for a list of available mental health resources.

Connecting veterinary professionals with mental health resources in the community

Suicide Support: Call 1-833-4566 or text 45645

• 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

AbVMA Members 

Homewood Health

• for AbVMA member mental health support
• call 1-800-663-1142 - Press (1) for immediate crisis support, offered 24/7
• OR visit homewoodhealth.com