Deepening Mental Health and Well-being Support for the Veterinary Profession

The veterinary profession offers deep fulfillment and rewarding connections with animals and pet owners — yet the demanding nature of the job, including long hours, emotional strain, and financial burden, can lead to burnout and duress. As the Zoetis Foundation strives to deepen its support for veterinary professionals, it’s essential to acknowledge the unique stressors they encounter and support comprehensive strategies for mental health and well-being care. 

This Mental Health Month, the Zoetis Foundation is spotlighting the work of Not One More Vet (NOMV), an organization working to transform the status of mental wellness in the veterinary profession through education, resources and support. The Zoetis Foundation is honored to provide grant support to NOMV’s Resource Program, which provides financial, nonfinancial, and referral services for those in crisis, and the Education and Wellness Program, which aims to destigmatize mental wellness issues, provide accessible resources, and build community. 

To learn more about this crucial work, the Zoetis Foundation sat down with Shannon Emmons, NOMV Board Member and Education Committee Co-Chair. 

“Mental health and what that means is different for everybody. For some people, it may be needing help paying bills whereas for others, it may be needing someone to talk to. So, we take a holistic approach to accommodate anybody who needs support and ensure all needs are being met,” Shannon said. 

To help those in crisis, NOMV’s Resource Program provides microgrants of up to $500 to help pay for mental health services, living expenses and groceries. The program also refers clients to free and paid services through its extensive, professionally vetted network of resources to provide multi-faceted support. The list includes resources for therapy and counseling, help lines, support groups, housing resources, financial planning, continuing education resources, and more. To normalize open discourse around mental health, the Education and Wellness Program helps foster a community of support through offering tailored lectures and workshops on topics related to veterinary wellness, toolkits, posters, and local-level networks of support. As a part of this program, NOMV helps bring mental health and well-being education to a larger audience and has participated in 30 speaking opportunities and conferences so far this year, including Western Vet and SAVMA Symposium. 

Recognizing the diverse field of veterinary medicine, NOMV works to meet the needs of veterinary professionals across focus areas, veterinary technicians, assistants, researchers, practice managers and owners, and more. 

Shannon shared, “The veterinary community is facing a huge staffing shortage. But if there is something we can do to keep people who are amazing at what they do in the veterinary profession — we want to do that in any way we can.” 

So far in 2024, an estimated 40,000 veterinary professionals have been reached through NOMV’s efforts. 

“It’s been incredible to see how NOMV has evolved over time, seeing it start as a Facebook group and grow into a large organization with staff support,” said Shannon. “This is in part because of Zoetis Foundation’s generosity to help keep these programs running.” 

Mental Health Month is a valuable opportunity to underscore the importance of mental health and well-being in the veterinary medicine community. Through the work of Not One More Vet, the Zoetis Foundation is grateful to help support mental health and well-being to ensure a thriving veterinary community. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org.