Call for abstracts for Mind Matters Initiative Research Symposium
The symposium will be held in Manchester on 10 October 2023.
The RCVS Mind Matters Initiative is asking researchers working on mental health and wellbeing in the veterinary profession to submit abstracts for the forthcoming Mind Matters Mental Health Research Symposium.
The event, which will be held at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, on Tuesday, 10 October 2023, will bring together researchers, veterinary professionals, and mental health experts from around the world for a full programme of events.
Researchers from all backgrounds and career stages, including students, are encouraged to apply. Those who wish to take part can choose either to give a 15 minute presentation or present a poster which will be displayed at the venue.
The abstracts can be on any area of mental health and wellbeing in the veterinary profession, including the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary nurses and other members of the veterinary team.
Submitted abstracts must be no longer than 250 words and include:
- background
- clear and explicit aims and objectives
- hypotheses or research questions
- methods
- results
- discussion
- conclusion.
Lisa Quigley, Mind Matters Manager, said: “Veterinary mental health research remains of vital importance. Since MMI’s inception we have been heartened to see the field attract ever-increasing numbers of skilled, compassionate researchers from across the UK and beyond – many of whom have a personal connection to the professions. We know they care deeply about the work they do to improve our understanding of veterinary mental health challenges, and the things that can help.
“Our last symposium, held online in 2021, saw some of the top researchers in veterinary mental health present their work on topics ranging from cyberbullying and exercise to the effectiveness of mental health support apps and the importance of mindset. We also heard progress reports from our Sarah Brown research grant winners, whose outstanding work in Sarah’s memory is already making a tangible difference to the everyday lives of those working in the veterinary professions. We look forward to returning to an in-person event for 2023, and welcoming all members of the veterinary mental health research community to Manchester.”
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. 
