Submitted by Kelly Foster, DVM, HVMA Hawaii County Representative
Aloha, colleagues.
This fall, VIN News reported the death by suicide of a recent veterinary graduate on the mainland, someone just beginning a career they’d worked years to reach. Out of respect for the family, we won’t name them. But many of us read it and felt it in our chests.
We know the weight of this work: long days, hard goodbyes, debt, clients who don’t see how much we give. Veterinarians face higher suicide risk; in one Canadian survey, about a quarter had considered it in the past year. If that’s ever been you, you’re not weak, and you’re not alone. Connection is one of our strongest protections.
Here in Hawaiʻi, we’re few and spread across islands, and it’s easy to carry things quietly. Please don’t.
A painful moment at NOMV
For many of us, Not One More Vet was the first place we felt understood. Now, according to a September 30 VIN News report, it’s in turmoil. Long-time volunteers, including Dr. Carrie Jurney, say they were removed or locked out after raising concerns about transparency, and that the Lifeboat peer-support program was ended without consulting them. NOMV says it parted ways with a small number of volunteers, disputes the word “banned,” and declined to give details. We hope the community finds its footing. In the meantime, confirm what NOMV currently offers before relying on it.
If you need someone today
- Call or text 988 (808 numbers reach Hawaiʻi CARES)
- Hawaiʻi CARES, 24/7: 808-832-3100 or 1-800-753-6879
- Text ALOHA to 741741
- VMHS: free, confidential virtual support groups for all veterinary staff (not a crisis line): VMHS@nomv.org
Text a colleague today. Ask how they’re really doing, then stay for the answer.