The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) is inviting veterinary professionals to get involved its latest continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities, helping to improve mental health management in the workplace and broaden knowledge on mental health conditions.
The first opportunity is a series of online and in-person workshops, being held following the successful launch of the 'Managing Mental Health in the Workplace' CPD course on the RCVS’s free professional learning platform, the RCVS Academy (co-authored with workplace wellbeing specialists Ultimate Resilience).
Delivered by two of Ultimate Resilience’s clinical psychologists, Dr Felicity Baker and Dr Jackie Allt, the workshops will expand on key concepts from the Academy course - bringing them to life through discussion, self-reflection, and practical exercises. Sessions will support delegates to develop leadership skills, become confident and skilled in recognising early signs of stress and burnout, and to practice conversation skills to support colleagues who may be struggling.
The workshops will take place both in-person and online and will be held for designated groups of the veterinary community – for example, vets in both clinical and non-clinical roles, veterinary nurses, those working in the not for profit sector, and new to management professionals - throughout March, April, May and June.
The second opportunity for CPD is a free webinar running as part of MMI’s Applied Mental Health Science series. The ‘Work, mental health and mood webinar’, taking place on Monday 30 March from 6.30pm to 7.45pm, will help delegates learn to recognise a range of mood/affective disorders and their impact in the workplace, support those in the veterinary team experiencing these conditions, reduce stigma, and signpost individuals to appropriate sources of help and support. Speakers include Clinical Psychologist Dr Marco Vivolo, veterinary mental health researcher James Glass MRCVS, and wellbeing instructor Emma Sadler RVN.
The webinar coincides with World Bipolar Day, during which MMI will also launch its new ‘Let’s talk bipolar’ guide, the latest of its Applied Mental Health Science series of publications, along with a collection of lived experience insight blogs.
Mind Matters Lead, Rapinder Newton, said: “We’re heartened by the positive reception that our 'Manging Mental Health in the Workplace' Academy course and bite-size guides have received, and are delighted to be bringing these projects to life in live settings where we can reach wider audiences.
“Our workshops and webinar provide an opportunity for veterinary professionals to come together, who might not otherwise get the chance to do so.”
The ‘Managing Mental Health in the Workplace’ workshops will have a maximum of 16 participants. In-person workshops are £150 per person (lunch and refreshments included), and £120 for online. More information and details on how to book can be found on the RCVS’s dedicated Eventbrite page.
To sign up to the free ‘Work, mental health and mood webinar’ visit the RCVS website. Current Applied Mental Health Science series resources can be found on the Mind Matters website.