Mental health and wellbeing app opens for registration.
Veterinary professionals are being invited to pre-register for a new mental health and wellbeing app being produced by the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative (MMI).
Launching this autumn, the new MMI Kite App is the result of a collaboration between RCVS MMI and The Kite Program, incorporating bespoke bite-sized modules for the professions to work through.
Completely free to use, the modules consist of interactive activities, images and videos that can be easily incorporated into the working day, many of which take just five minutes to complete.
Users of the app can select which modules they wish to complete and work through them at their own pace. The first available modules include breathing activities, mindfulness, time management and physical activity for mental health, with more to be added over the coming weeks and months.
Angharad Belcher, RCVS director for advancement of the professions, commented: “Veterinary professionals undertake vital work for animal health and welfare, but the intensity and pressure of their work can take its toll on mental health and wellbeing. Sadly, research shows that compared to the general population, veterinary professionals are more likely to experience mental health distress, including depression and anxiety.
“We recognise how hard it can be for veterinary professionals to fit wellbeing activities into their busy workdays and understand that everyone’s mental health needs are different. By collaborating with The Kite Program, we wanted to create a wellbeing platform that was accessible, flexible and had a range of activities to meet a variety of mental health and wellbeing needs."
Hannah Hardy-Jones, The Kite Program CEO and founder, said: “We use a Kite as an effective analogy for talking about wellbeing. At the Kite Program, we believe this is a much easier analogy to explain and normalise wellbeing and mental health, which can often be very clinical and unrelatable.
"As people, we go between having soaring kites right through to having a kite that is broken and on the ground. It takes practice, patience and skills to be able to fly your kite in any condition. Our app and programs are designed to help people learn to “fly” confidently. As you move through each Kite module within the app, you build skills in an accessible and practical way.”
Those wishing to pre-register for MMI Kite App can do so by visiting vetmindmatters.org/mmi-app. A full demo of the app will be available for those attending BEVA Congress 2021 on the RCVS stand.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
