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Posted: 22nd February 2022

MMI releases report on mental health symposium
Almost 100 delegates were welcomed to the virtual symposium event.
Delegates heard the latest insights from veterinary mental health researchers.

The RCVS has released a report detailing the proceedings of its Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) Research Symposium, held in November 2021.

Held online on 24 November, the symposium saw delegates receive a day of virtual talks given by mental health researchers on a variety of topics.

Professor Rory O'Connor, Chair of Health Psychology at the University of Glasgow's Institute of Health and Wellbeing, gave the plenary speech 'When it is darkest: understanding suicide risk' on his suicide prevention research.

Rory discussed the immediate and medium-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health and wellbeing, and also briefly discussed how veterinary surgeons are three to four times more likely then the general population to die by suicide.

He also explained the science behind the Integrated Motivational-Volitional (IMV) models of suicidal behaviour, and how to reduce the risk of suicidal ideation turning into suicidal action.

“In the last 10 to 15 years there has been an increased focus in particular on psychological and psycho-social interventions for helping people who are suicidal,” Professor O'Connor said.

“Although suicide is complex, interventions, even brief interventions, can be effective.”

Research teams who received the MMI's Sarah Brown Mental Health Research Grant in 2019 and 2020 gave presentations on their findings. Delegates heard from Dr Victoria Crossley and Dr Navaratnam Partheeban on the lack of diversity in the veterinary professions and how their research aimed to understand how experiences of racism impacted BAME people working and studying in the veterinary sector.

Other grant recipients who presented their research were Dr Victoria Williamson, who presented her research on 'Experiences of moral injury in UK veterinary professional wellbeing', and Dr Kate Stephen, who presented on the mental health of farm vets, and what employers can do to support the work/life balance of farm vets more effectively.

Following the Sarah Brown Mental Health Grant talks, a series of presentations were held in a number of streams across the afternoon sessions, allowing delegates to decide which sessions to attend. Full details of these sessions can be found in the report.

Professor Susan Dawson, Chair of the Mind Matters Taskforce, concluded the day with a talk giving an overview of what MMI has achieved since it's beginnings, and what plans it has for the next five years.

In her final remark, Professor Dawson highlighted the importance of a mentally healthy veterinary workforce, not only for the industry, but also for the animals and clients the profession cares for.



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