ABOUT

The Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of those in the veterinary team, including students, veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons and practice managers. MMI was launched in 2015 and is funded and run by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses in the UK. The RCVS takes the mental health and welfare of members of the veterinary profession seriously, and its five-year, one million pound commitment to Mind Matters reflects this. Mind Matters is chaired by Susan Dawson, who is also Chair of the Veterinary Schools Council. It is run day to day by its Director, RCVS CEO, Lizzie Lockett and Mind Matters Initiative Manager, Lisa Quigley. Mind Matters is a pan-professional initiative, supported by a taskforce comprising representatives from key veterinary and veterinary nursing organisations, including:

WHAT WE DO

Mind Matters is not your first port of call if you are in crisis or need direct and immediate help. If that is the case, please turn to the Vetlife Helpline, which we support, both financially and in kind.

The Vetlife Helpline number is 0303 040 2551, and there is also a confidential and anonymous email service, accessible via vetlife.org.uk

We offer mental health awareness training and try to break down the stigma associated with mental ill-health. We also develop and support resources and courses to help students, vets, nurses and practice managers to flourish, and, when needed, to get back on form.

Our work is divided into three streams of activity:

Prevent – proactively looking at systemic issues within the veterinary profession to help minimise the chance of people becoming unwell in the first place. Our joint anti-stigma campaign, &me, which we run with the Doctors’ Support Network, also falls under this stream of activity.

Protect – a programme of communications and training designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to stay well, even when working under challenging conditions.

Support – financial and other support for existing independent services, such as Vet Support NI, Vetlife Helpline and Vetlife Health Support, together with an investigation into what more may be required to support those in need, and catalysing the development of those services.

ABOUT

WHAT WE DO

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