601: Not One More Vet with Gigi Tsontos

What is life really like behind the scenes at your vet's office? Collin sits down with Gigi Tsontos, Executive Director of Not One More Vet, Inc. (NOMV), to discuss the hidden mental health crisis facing veterinary professionals. Gigi shares the mission of NOMV, the complex stressors vets face, and the resources NOMV provides—from peer support to emergency grants. They also explore how pet sitters and pet parents can shift the culture through empathy, gratitude, and everyday check-ins. It's a call to action to recognize, respect, and support the emotional toll behind every diagnosis.

Main topics:

• Veterinary mental health crisis

• Suicide prevention in vet medicine

• NOMV programs and peer support

• Communicating with empathy and care

• Role of pet sitters in advocacy

Main takeaway: "When we as a community value mental health, it creates a wave—it hits everyone, and it keeps going."

Mental health isn't just an individual issue—it's a community responsibility. In the veterinary and pet care industries, small acts of compassion and understanding can ripple outward, changing lives and reshaping culture. Whether it's checking in on a colleague, expressing gratitude to your vet, or simply listening without judgment, your empathy makes a difference. Let's be the start of that wave—because when we value each other's wellbeing, we all rise together..

About our guest: Gigi Tsontos, LCSW, MPA, aka, Angelique, joined NOMV in January 2024. After studying Social Welfare Policy at the University of Kansas, Gigi spent two years in Mali West Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer, returning to complete a Master of Science in Social Work at Columbia University and a second Masters in Public Administration from San Diego State University. Her career led her to work in social services, homeless services, mental health, victims' rights, and nutrition supporting administrative roles and becoming a clinical social worker licensed in California and Kansas. Gigi lives in Kansas with her husband and 4 furry children. She sees the world as her home and has traveled extensively.

Links:

https://nomv.org

Race Around the World: https://nomv.org/race-around-the-world/

On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@notonemorevet

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Full show notes and transcript

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