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Sarah Brown Mental Health Grant opens for applications
£20,000 research grant now open for applications.
Grant set up in memory of beloved vet now in fifth year.

The 2023 Sarah Brown Mental Health Grant has opened for applications.

Offered by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Mind Matters Initiative (MMI), the £20,000 grant is available for veterinary mental health researchers to apply for. 

Set up in memory of veterinary surgeon, RCVS Council member and mental health campaigner Sarah Brown, the grant has been awarded annual since 2019. Five research projects have benefitted from the funding, all focussing on different aspects of veterinary mental health.

These projects have covered topics such as the effectiveness of online Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT) for veterinarian self-criticism and perfectionism, neurodiversity, wellbeing amongst isolated farm vets, the impact of racism on mental health, and the impact of moral injury on mental wellbeing.

Lisa Quigley, MMI manager, said: “The grant is open to anyone with a relevant research idea, whether that be a highly experienced researcher, or someone just starting out in their career. All applications are anonymised and will be judged based on their quality, originality and relevance to the profession.” 

All topics relevant to veterinary mental health will be considered, although those in line with the original aim of the grants and the strategic aims of the Mind Matters Initiative will be given particular interest. The themes and topics include:

  •  veterinary suicide
  •  those with a strong focus on mental health, rather than wellbeing/wellness
  •  veterinary nurses, veterinary nursing students, and non-veterinary members of the practice team
  •  understanding experiences of minoritised groups within the veterinary team
  •  projects led by those who typically receive fewer opportunities in academia.

Lisa continued: “Over the past four years, we have been fortunate to support some truly fantastic research projects within the veterinary mental health sphere. 

“Sarah was a strong mental health and wellbeing advocate with a particular passion for ensuring that those working in the veterinary professions were confident, happy, resilient and well supported. 

“We are grateful to Sarah’s family for giving us their blessing and support to help continue her legacy through the Sarah Brown Mental Health Research Grant.”

Further information on the research grant can be found on the Mind Matters website, along with a downloadable application form. Applications should be sent to Lisa Quigley on l.quigley@rcvs.org.uk by 5pm on Wednesday 31 May 2023.

Lisa added: “Mental health research is of vital importance, both in theory and practice, and forms a vital part of our work at MMI. Our past projects have already proven to have real tangible benefits to veterinary teams and we look forward to seeing how our research projects will continue to drive positive change in the future.”

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.