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Vet professionals invited to mental health training
The course will be held on 7-8 March 2024.
Two-day course to be held in Nottingham.

The Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) will host a two-day mental health first aid training course for veterinary professionals in Nottingham in March.

Providing a qualification in Mental Health First Aid, the in-person course will look at how to identify signs of poor mental health in others, how to direct people to appropriate support, and how to confidently begin conversations about mental health.

The training, provided in collaboration with Mental Health First Aid England, will take place at Antenna, Nottingham on Thursday, 7 March 2024 and Friday, 8 March 2024. It will cost £80 per person.

Any member of the veterinary profession can attend, including veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, practice managers, receptionists, and students.

The MMI was set up by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2015 to improve mental health and wellbeing in the veterinary sector by providing training and resources.

Angharad Belcher, Advancement of the Professions and MMI director, said: “Having worked with Mental Health First Aid England in the past to provide these valuable training courses, we are really pleased to see the network of veterinary Mental Health First Aiders continue to grow, particularly in more rural areas where access to mental health support is often more difficult to come by.

“The aim is to create a ripple effect, whereby Mental Health First Aiders within the veterinary community can then support others to feel confident in speaking out about how they feel and to reach out for appropriate support if required.”

Places on the course can be booked on the MMI website.

Image © Shutterstock

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New guidelines published for wildlife disease surveillance

News Story 1
 A set of international guidelines for disease surveillance in wildlife has been updated for the first time since 2015.

Released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the World Organisation for Animal Health, General Guidelines for Surveillance of Diseases, Pathogens and Toxic Agents in Free-ranging Wildlife is designed to help wildlife authorities and others working with wildlife carry out effective surveillance programmes.

The document, which cover areas including choosing appropriate strategies, safety and biosafety protocols, and ethical and legal considerations, can be read here.  

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Restricted zone extended after more bluetongue cases

After three new cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 were detected along the Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire border, the restricted zone has been extended.

The zone now includes Buckinghamshire and part of Berkshire, as well as Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, City of Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, East Sussex, Essex, Greater London, part of Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, part of Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, part of Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, Surrey, and West Sussex.

Susceptible animals in the restricted zone should only be moved if it is essential. A specific licence is needed to move a susceptible animal from within the restricted zone to outside of the zone.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. Suspected cases must be reported on 03000 200 301 in England or 03003 038 268 in Wales. In Scotland, suspected cases should be reported to the local field services office. In Northern Ireland, suspected cases should be reported to the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or by contacting the local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.

A map of the areas where restrictions apply can be found here.