Mind Matters Initiative calls for mental health abstracts
The online symposium will bring together researchers from across the world.
Researchers working in mental health and wellbeing in the veterinary professions are being encouraged to submit their research papers for the virtual Mind Matters Mental Health Research Symposium.
The Symposium, titled 'Understanding and supporting veterinary mental health', will bring researchers together from across the world who are interested in all aspects of veterinary mental health and wellbeing among veterinary professionals.
Researchers are being encouraged to submit their abstracts for the Symposium, which is being organised by the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative (MMI), so they can present their research in 15-minute talks. The event will take place virtually this year, on Wednesday, 24 November 2021.
Mind Matters manager, Lisa Quigley, said: “In previous Symposiums we have had researchers from across the world, including Australia, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and the Netherlands, presenting their research. We hope that, particularly as the Symposium is now entirely online, the international nature of this event will be repeated because it is really important to compare and contrast the veterinary professions across different countries.
“The nature of the research has also been a fascinating insight into the work that is going into the areas of diagnosis, treatment and prevention, covering everything from the prevalence of burnout among veterinarians, to the wellbeing of government vets, to how stress and unease can be converted to confidence and harmony through effective continuing professional development.”
Those wishing to submit abstracts for the Symposium should ensure they are no longer than 250 words and include background; clear and explicit aims and objectives, hypotheses or research questions; methods; results; discussion; and conclusion.
The abstracts should be submitted as Word documents to event organiser Rosie Allister, who also manages the Vetlife Helpline, on rosie.allister@gmail.com by Tuesday 6 April 2021.
Applicants will be notified if they have been successful within 14 days of this date. Speakers whose applications are successful will receive complimentary registration for the Symposium.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
