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MMI shares topics for BSAVA Congress 2024
MMI says the topics will go beyond discussing wellbeing.
It will discuss issues including moral stress, OCD and PTSD.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) is to host two streams on mental illness at the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) Congress 2024.

Among the topics that MMI will be discussing are moral injury, psychological safety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

MMI’s first stream, taking place on Thursday, 21 March, will form part of the Wellbeing Programme. This stream will focus on moral stress, moral injury and psychological safety.

As well as exploring these topics, MMI will talk about veterinary mental health charity Vetlife. The stream will also include a panel discussion to consider how ethical conversations can be used to support colleagues experiencing challenging events.

A second stream will be hosted on Friday, 22 March, to explore OCD and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This will form part of the BSAVA Scientific Programme.

Through specific talks, attendees will learn about the science behind OCD and PTSD, and their impacts. This will include two panel discussions focusing on lived experience and workplace support for the conditions.

MMI says that their chosen topics are both linked to their five-year strategy, published at the end of last year.

It said that a research project, funded by its Sarah Brown Mental Health research grant in 2020, highlighted a problem in the professions with moral stress and injury. MMI commented that the impact of the XL bully ban has made this a particularly prominent topic.

MMI says the topics will go beyond addressing wellbeing, further exploring the impacts of mental illness on those in veterinary professions.

It aims to provide expert, evidence-based information to remove the stigma it says is often attached to mental illness.

Rapinder Newton, MMI lead, said: “By delving into the science behind OCD and PTSD and bringing in clinical experts to talk about these topics, as well as integrating the stories of those with lived experience, we hope to challenge people’s potential misconceptions and widen the conversations around mental health, to ultimately improve the experiences of those experiencing these conditions and to help strengthen the workforce as a whole.”

The first stream will take place on Thursday, 21 March from 10.30am-5.00pm. The second stream will be on Friday, 22 March from 9.10am-5.40pm.

Image © Shutterstock

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

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 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.