The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) and VN Futures project are expanding their training collaboration to include self-compassion and anxiety workshops. MMI and VN Futures have a long-standing working relationship and their common aims have seen them work together in a number of different capacities over the past few years. […]
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) is inviting veterinary mental health researchers to apply for the 2023 Sarah Brown Mental Health Research Grant. The £20,000 grant, which was set up in memory of vet, RCVS Council member and mental health campaigner Sarah Brown, has been awarded every year since 2019 […]
Mind Matters Initiative has developed a range of new mental health and wellbeing training opportunities for the veterinary professions for 2023. Expanding on the training available in autumn 2022, which was launched based on the results of an extensive training pilot, MMI is offering a total of 14 sessions taking place both online and in […]
Working hard and doing your best is never a bad thing. However, consistently setting unrealistic standards for yourself and constantly striving for perfection can have a hugely damaging effect on your self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-worth. This, in turn, leads to an increased vulnerability to developing certain psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression. In this […]
This chat was centred around the BAME Student Support Working Group Report, published by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Schools Council in June 2022 which can be accessed on the RCVS website. The panel discussed some of the key issues highlighted in the report; how it’s recommendations for improving the educational experience of […]
Navigating change is inevitably challenging, but with this comes the opportunity to learn and grow. The modern world is constantly evolving and as such we are constantly having to learn to adapt. Whether that be embracing the challenges of a new job, moving house, navigating the breakdown of a relationship, or letting go of the […]
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Mind Matters Initiative is inviting veterinary professionals to join their fourth series of Campfire Chats commencing this autumn. The Campfire Chats, which were first set up in January 2021, provide veterinary professionals with the opportunity to come together to chat about important topics impacting their mental health and […]
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has announced a new civility training collaboration with the RCVS VN Futures project to help tackle incivility in the workplace. The training will be delivered by VetLed. Having worked with VetLed previously in the year to deliver six successful online civility training sessions, MMI […]
The RCVS Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) is sponsoring the latest series of Veterinary Nurse Think Tanks, run by VetLed, a leading provider of ‘human factors’ skills training for veterinary professionals, supported by the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA). The Veterinary Nurse Think Tank series is running as part of an ongoing collaboration between MMI and VetLed, […]
The RCVS Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has awarded £20,000 to a research project investigating the effectiveness of online compassionate imagery intervention in improving the psychological wellbeing of veterinarians. The funding comes from the Sarah Brown Mental Health Research Grant, which was founded in 2019 in memory of RCVS Council member Sarah Brown, who passed away […]
The RCVS Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has announced a new programme of fully-funded Mental Health First Aid training, which will be delivered in partnership with Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England. One of MMI’s key areas of focus is the mental health and wellbeing of students, and the new training programme follows on from previous […]
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) will be working with Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England to deliver a free, online training programme for vets in isolated and rural areas across the UK, as well as vets working in ambulatory practice. The training programme has been launched in recognition of […]
Loneliness is a key driver of poor mental health and affects millions of people in the UK every year and, according to The Mental Health Foundation’s Pandemic research, this has been exacerbated by the pandemic. In this Mental Health Awareness Week Campfire Chat special, we came together to discuss why meaningful connection and having a […]
A new joint training initiative from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) and the Veterinary Management Group (VMG) will aim to educate veterinary leaders and managers on mental health in the workplace. The collaboration will be delivered by the VMG’s online learning platform and can either be taken as a free […]
Scott Kilpatrick BSc BVM&S MSc DipECVIM-CA MRCVS European & RCVS Specialist in Internal Medicine How did you stay connected with others over the pandemic period? Zoom really was a game changer! I was lucky in some ways that I still went into the clinic to work. Seeing my lovely work colleagues really kept me sane. […]
Dr Samantha Butler-Davies BVSc MRCVS Veterinary Clinical Services Manager How did you stay connected with others over the pandemic period? Pretty much all virtually. Be that from simple text/Whatsapp messages or video calls. Even just a one line “hello, how you doing today?” message was so important – to send and receive. I’ve tried to […]
This week (9 – 15 May) marks the UK’s Mental Health Awareness Week – an annual opportunity for us all to come together to talk about mental health and to help break down the stigma surrounding it. The theme for this year’s Awareness Week is loneliness. Loneliness impacts many of us at one time or […]
Lacey Pitcher RVN Mind Matters Senior Outreach and Engagement Officer How did you stay connected with others over the pandemic period? I joined online communities and kept an accountable weekly check-in. I also adopted a nanna through Mind. Is a sense of community important to you? Hugely important. For me, a sense of community is […]
The RCVS Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) is marking this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week with the launch of a competition about how we can remain connected with ourselves and others through the power of creativity. Mental Health Awareness Week (Monday 9 to Sunday 15 May 2022) was founded by the Mental Health Foundation 21 years […]
Macauly Gatenby Veterinary Nursing Student, British Veterinary Nursing Association Student Representative, Mind Matters Initiative Taskforce Member How did you stay connected with others over the pandemic period? The way I connected with others was through social media. As much as I hate the negativity it can cause, it was such a vital component of keeping […]