petvet profile
Dr. Carrie Jurney
Heading Up Veterinary Wellbeing Support with
by Jen Phillips April Photos by Not One More Vet 12
PETVET MAGAZINE
A
t over 35,000 members, Not One More Vet (NOMV) is the largest veterinary peer-to-peer support group in the field. And with this being the organization’s mission statement, it is easy to understand why: “NOMV will transform the status of mental wellness within the profession so veterinary professionals can survive and thrive through education, resources, and support.”
There’s a crisis within the veterinary profession. And with 91% of veterinarians facing a moral/ethical dilemma every week, to say it is a stressful occupation is an understatement. Add to that the pressure of heavy student loan debt, cyberbullying and the demands of communicating with panicked pet parents, it’s not surprising that those in the profession face high rates of stress and burnout. NOMV offers veterinarians and vet techs support and resources to help them find comfort and connection. Heading up the organization is the current president, Dr. Carrie Jurney, who is also a California-based neurologist with her own company, Jurney Veterinary Neurology. Dr. Jurney continues to pursue education in mental health and suicide prevention so she can better understand and be a part of the solution for veterinary suicide. She says, “We support over 35,000 veterinarians. We offer peer support through a Facebook support forum and Lifeboat, which is completely anonymous. It’s not a crisis model. It’s peer-topeer support.” As a neurologist, Dr. Jurney spends her days in surgery. “When most people think about a veterinarian, they think about someone who gives vaccines to puppies and kittens and spays dogs. I don’t do any of that. My patients have