MMI releases details of mental health symposium
Dr Leah Quinlivan is a research fellow and psychologist at the University of Manchester.
Details have been released for the fourth RCVS Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) mental health research symposium.
The event is open to all members of the veterinary team and is being held in Manchester on Tuesday, 10 October. It will feature presentations from veterinary mental health researchers from across the UK and Europe.
Dr Leah Quinlivan, a research fellow and chartered psychologist at the University of Manchester is opening the event with the plenary on Evidence-based care for people who have self-harmed: risk prediction, psychosocial assessments, and aftercare.
This will be followed by presentations from recipients of the Sarah Brown mental health research grant that was set-up in 2019 in memory of RCVS council member Sarah Brown. The grant helps to fund research projects into veterinary mental health and wellbeing.
During the symposium, the award will be presented to this year’s recipient of the grant.
The event will also include talks on post-covid wellbeing amongst veterinary professionals, the impact of companion animal euthanasia, workplace stressors and how they change with career stage, and the quality of mental health support received by veterinary nurses.
Lisa Quigley, MMI project manager, said: “This year it is great to get back to having an in-person MMI symposium. I am proud that we have created an inclusive and welcoming event, featuring leading national and international researchers on veterinary mental health and wellbeing, as well as those who are at the beginning of their research career. This year, the event promises once more to be a supportive and thought-provoking event, where we can gather to share findings, information and best practice for the good of the professions.
“The recent publication of MMI’s five-year strategy has outlined our recognition that we need to expand the conversation beyond mental health awareness and into looking at more systemic and cultural issues, as well as exploring how the insights gained from research might be implemented in practice. These ambitious aims are reflected in the breadth of the talks and presentations at the symposium and so I look forward to hearing more from those who share our values and aims, and to continuing the conversation about how and where we can do more.”
Individuals can register for the event online. Tickets cost £45 per person. Attendance is free for: students; people with lived experience of mental health problems; and individuals who are unemployed or undertaking unpaid work.
Image (C) RCVS
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