A landmark Mind Matters-funded survey investigating the experiences of racism and the impact it has on the mental wellbeing of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people working or studying in the UK veterinary sector was launched on Tuesday 19 January. The group of researchers leading the project are calling for as many participants as […]
We will be holding two mental health awareness courses in December to help members of the veterinary team better understand mental ill-health and how to intervene if it is affecting colleagues. The two online courses, which are led by Trevor Bell, an experienced mental health trainer and campaigner, will take place on Tuesday 15 December between […]
To coincide with this year’s World Mental Health Day we have joined forces with the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) to raise awareness of the mental health and wellbeing challenges facing equine veterinary surgeons, and to offer advice and support. On 10 October 2020, MMI and BEVA will launch a short animated film featuring a […]
Susan Dawson, Mind Matters Initiative Chair Today marks world Mental Health Day, with a theme of ‘mental health for all’. It presents an opportune moment to reflect on the last five years of the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative, and to look ahead at what’s next for us. MMI recently celebrated its fifth anniversary, and although […]
James Glass graduated from the Royal Vet College in London in 1992 and, with his wife Debbie, spent almost 20 years building and running a small animal practice on the edge of the Lake District. In 2018, on the verge of suicide, he was diagnosed with severe depressive disorder and was off work for nine […]
We have given out four £300 Wellbeing in Innovation awards to practices and organisations to help them to fund creative ways to go the extra mile for morale during the coronavirus pandemic. The competition was launched in May to find out what innovative activities and projects practices wanted to put in place to enhance staff […]
I think everyone can agree that lockdown has been a massive shock to the system. But it has also been a steep learning curve. During these rollercoaster times, I have not only learnt more about society and how we can work together to support each other, but also about myself and how to be kind […]
We have awarded two £20,000 grants to two separate research projects, which will look into the mental health impacts of racial discrimination and moral injury in the veterinary professions respectively. The Sarah Brown Mental Health Research Grant was founded in 2019, in memory of RCVS Council member Sarah Brown who passed away in 2017, to help fund […]
Fergus Mitchell (pictured) is a 3rd year veterinary student at Nottingham University. He is the VetSoc’s Welfare Officer this academic year and is passionate about promoting mental health awareness amongst his peers. Combined with his love for sport, this has led him to start his own research into how exercise can positively impact vet students […]
We’re pleased to announce we will be holding a series of free online ‘Reflection Time’ sessions over the coming months. These facilitated sessions aim to help veterinary professionals reflect on the emotional aspects of their work in a safe, confidential online space. The series will be facilitated by Mind Matters Manager Lisa Quigley and each […]
The Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) and the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) has opened the 2020 Practice Wellbeing Star nominations to recognise those individuals who are helping to create a positive workplace environment even under the present difficult circumstances. The nominations allow practices to recognise someone at their workplace who has helped to hold […]
Ami Sawran, veterinary surgeon When I’m looking at all of this as a calm and rational person, lockdown is a situation in which I can truly take stock of the things I have taken for granted in my professional and personal life. It is also a catalyst for reaffirming just how grateful I am for […]
We are launching an innovation competition to find the best ideas on how the veterinary team can enhance mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus pandemic. The Innovation in Wellbeing competition is encouraging veterinary teams to think of new and inventive ideas for supporting each other, boosting morale and encouraging a sense of togetherness and […]
We are offering a range of online resources, training and sessions in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on mental health. Lisa Quiqley, Mind Matters Manager, commented: “Very understandably there has been a focus on the physical side of COVID-19, but, particularly as we approach Mental Health Awareness Week from Monday 18 […]
We have extended the application period for the Sarah Brown Mental Health Research Grant u ntilJuly. The £20,000 research grant, named in honour of an RCVS Council member who tragically passed away in 2017, is made on an annual basis to fund research that focuses on mental health and wellbeing in the veterinary professions in […]
We are sponsoring a webinar this month that will look at how veterinary students and student veterinary nurses can stay healthy and look after their mental wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The one-hour webinar, titled ‘Calm in the Corona’ takes place between 11am and 12 noon on Saturday 25 April and is being led […]
The Mind Matters Initiative has organised a free series of three webinars over the next three months that will look at issues such as cyberbullying, eating disorders, and self-harm amongst the veterinary team. Each of the one-hour webinars is hosted by The Webinar Vet and take place at 12.30pm. In order of date they are: Thursday 26 March […]
The winners of the 2019 Vet Wellbeing Awards have been announced today (Friday 24 January 2020) as part of the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) and Veterinary Management Group (VMG) Congress, at Celtic Manor, Newport. Launched in 2016, with the first Awards made in 2017, and are run by the Society for Practising Veterinary […]
MMI has organised and sponsored a number of upcoming webinars, including as part of the Webinar Vet’s online Virtual Congress. The first webinar takes place at 12.30pm on Thursday 23 January 2020 and is hosted by Elinor O’Connor (pictured), a Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Professor of Occupational Psychology at the University of Manchester Alliance Business […]