Our dear friend and travel nurse, Michael Odell died by suicide on January 18th, 2022. We lost contact with Michael during the last 4 hours of his shift, when he alerted his charge nurse that he needed to retrieve something from his car, and never returned to work. Four hours later, his car was seen on security footage leaving the parking garage of the hospital, and an hour later we geolocated him on the Dumbarton bridge, heading eastbound towards Hayward, CA. His car was found on the side of the highway. After two days of civilian-led searches, law enforcement became heavily involved and Michael’s body was recovered from the San Francisco Bay, not far from where his car was found.

Michael was an incredibly caring human being; his passion and zest for life touched so many across the nation and the world. We honor his life and work by caring for each other and spreading his love and his message to our nursing community: you are never alone.

A group of nurses who were close friends and colleagues of Michael Odell who share a common passion for improving mental health and welfare among nurses.

Our goal is simple: we refuse to lose another friend or nursing colleague to preventable mental health crises. Our work isn’t done until every nurse is provided with quality, accessible mental health care.

To advocate for nurses living with mental illness and provide a digital crisis intervention platform to members of the nursing community who are considering suicide.

To provide a research-based peer support network for bedside nurses and nursing assistants; to share common experiences and emotional reactions with others who have had similar experiences, and to bridge the gap between bedside nursing caregivers and mental health treatment.