Charities

Free Mind Matters courses from BSAVA & RCVS

vetreportJune 14, 2016

BSAVA is holding a series training sessions in mental health awareness as its contribution to the Mind Matters initiative. These 12 meetings, one for each region, will take place over the next year, starting this summer. The courses will provide invaluable training for all members of the practice team to help them recognise any signs of mental problems in their colleagues – and, perhaps, also in themselves.

RCVS created Mind Matters in response to studies showing the suicide rate among veterinary surgeons is more than three times higher than that in the general population. Through various initiatives, some with partners like BSAVA and SPVS, Mind Matters aims to reduce the numbers in the profession suffering from clinical depression by increasing knowledge about mental wellbeing.

The course has been subsidised by BSAVA and is available free to BSAVA members and just £40 per person for non-members. Details for the following events can be found online at www.bsava.com. More dates will be announced by BSAVA soon.

■ South East region 13 July – Maidstone

■ Southern region 14 July – Romsey

■ East Anglia region 15 September – Cambridge

■ West Midlands region 21 September – Bromyard

■ North West region 27 September – Haydock

■ South West region 5 October – Bristol

■ Welsh region 20 October – Bridgend

■ Metropolitan region 29 November – London