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VN researchers invite input on mental health curriculum
The webinar will 'upskill' tutors about mental health education and principles.

SVNs and VN educators could help co-design a webinar.

Researchers are recruiting those involved with veterinary nursing education to help shape the future of the mental health in the curriculum.

Student veterinary nurses (SVNs), educators and wellbeing practitioners are invited to co-design a webinar into mental health education in SVN courses.

The recruitment forms part of a VET-MIND project, led by Dr Faye Didymus and Dr Jackie Hargreaves from Leeds Beckett University. The researchers will aim to design, deliver and evaluate the role of mental health in the curriculum for veterinary nurse tutors and students.

By co-creating a webinar, the project hopes to ‘upskill’ tutors about mental health education and principles, instilling confidence in those who watch it.

The project received the RCVS Mind Matters Impact Grant for 2025, winning a £40,000 research grant at the end of last year. It is set to build upon the duo’s research from 2023, which also explored how mental health and wellbeing could be integrated into learning paths.

Speaking after receiving their funding, Dr Didymus said: “In that work, we found that veterinary nurse educators working in further and higher education need more support to deliver education that embeds mental health principles and, in doing so, sustains students’ mental health. VET-MIND responds directly to this need by co-designing practical solutions with those who are educating the next generation of nurses.”

Their latest project, which will last three years, seeks to provide interactive training to educators as well as evaluating learning over time.


Recruits will attend two two-hour online workshops, during which they will share their ideas for developing a training webinar for the implementation of mental health into the SVN curriculum.

The first workshops will take place on either June 3, from 6pm to 8pm, or on June 4 from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Participants will be given a £25 Love to Shop voucher for their contributions.

If you are interested in participating, email o.williamson@leedsbeckett.ac.uk , j.hargreaves@leedsbeckett.ac.uk or f.didymus@leedsbecket.ac.uk 

Image © Ratana21/Shutterstock.com

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