Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on March 21, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
News & Reports
News & Reports health and wellbeing
Helpline strengthened by mental health and wellbeing initiative THE Vet Helpline, the telephone support line for veterinary professionals and their families, will be the first beneficiary of a new initiative launched by the RCVS last week to help address mental health and wellbeing issues within the veterinary profession. The Mind Matters Initiative aims to proactively increase the accessibility and acceptance of support available to the veterinary profession and to encourage a culture ‘that is better equipped to talk and deal with stress and related mental health issues’. The College announced that the first action to be taken under the initiative is the provision of funding to ensure that callers to the Vet Helpline support service are put through directly to a person, rather than having to leave a message. The helpline is part of the Veterinary Benevolent Fund (VBF) and is run by volunteers. ‘We are able to offer confidential, nonjudgemental support to many vets, VNs, vet students and members of their families who call us in distress, but we know there are more who are put off by the prospect of leaving a message,’ said Rosie Allister, chair of Vet Helpline. ‘It takes real courage to reach out for help when you’re struggling, and we know it can be especially tough for vets. Although we respond to calls quickly, callers need to speak to someone immediately, and not a message system, when they are in crisis. Through the
Mind Matters Initiative funding we are able to put in place a service that connects a caller directly to a human being, which could make a real difference for people who call.’ The Vet Helpline can be accessed by telephone on 07659 811 118 and its new system will be in place on December 22. There is also a confidential e-mail service available, which can be accessed via www. vetlife.org.uk. The Mind Matters Initiative will comprise the following five streams of activity over an initial three-year period: n Learning and understanding best practice: research within the veterinary profession, for example, into occupational stress factors; and among other related professions and private and public sector organisations that have successfully tackled similar issues. n Changing the culture: a programme of communications activities to help generate a positive environment for discussion, reduce stigma, increase awareness and the ability to identify risks, and encourage help-seeking behaviour. n Intervention – personal level: financial and other support for existing services, such as the Vet Helpline and Veterinary Surgeons Health Support Programme, together with an investigation into what more may be required to support those in need.
602 | Veterinary Record | December 20/27, 2014
n Intervention – supporting the supporters: training and guidance for those who may be working or living with someone who needs assistance, to help supporters spot and understand signs of stress and mental illness, and help the person seek expert help. n Making changes: working closely with the joint RCVS/BVA Vet Futures project (www.vetfutures.org.uk) (VR, November 29, 2014, vol 175, pp 518, 519-520) to help identify aspects of how the profession is structured and run (from student to retirement) that exacerbate stress and mental health problems, and consider how they can be addressed. ‘Mental health is a significant issue for the veterinary profession,’ said Neil Smith, RCVS vice-president and chair of the Mind Matters Initiative. ‘Most of us have experience of colleagues or ourselves having problems. The Mind Matters Initiative is a pan-profession project, and I am very pleased that there is active engagement from across the various veterinary associations and stakeholders.’ The initiative is being supported by a group comprising the VBF, the BVA, the British Veterinary Nursing Association, the Veterinary Practice Management Association, the Veterinary Schools Council, the Veterinary Defence Society and the Association of Veterinary Students. doi: 10.1136/vr.g7690
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on March 21, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Helpline strengthened by mental health and wellbeing initiative Veterinary Record 2014 175: 602
doi: 10.1136/vr.g7690 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/175/24/602.1
These include:
Email alerting service
Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
News & Reports
News & Reports health and wellbeing
Helpline strengthened by mental health and wellbeing initiative THE Vet Helpline, the telephone support line for veterinary professionals and their families, will be the first beneficiary of a new initiative launched by the RCVS last week to help address mental health and wellbeing issues within the veterinary profession. The Mind Matters Initiative aims to proactively increase the accessibility and acceptance of support available to the veterinary profession and to encourage a culture ‘that is better equipped to talk and deal with stress and related mental health issues’. The College announced that the first action to be taken under the initiative is the provision of funding to ensure that callers to the Vet Helpline support service are put through directly to a person, rather than having to leave a message. The helpline is part of the Veterinary Benevolent Fund (VBF) and is run by volunteers. ‘We are able to offer confidential, nonjudgemental support to many vets, VNs, vet students and members of their families who call us in distress, but we know there are more who are put off by the prospect of leaving a message,’ said Rosie Allister, chair of Vet Helpline. ‘It takes real courage to reach out for help when you’re struggling, and we know it can be especially tough for vets. Although we respond to calls quickly, callers need to speak to someone immediately, and not a message system, when they are in crisis. Through the
Mind Matters Initiative funding we are able to put in place a service that connects a caller directly to a human being, which could make a real difference for people who call.’ The Vet Helpline can be accessed by telephone on 07659 811 118 and its new system will be in place on December 22. There is also a confidential e-mail service available, which can be accessed via www. vetlife.org.uk. The Mind Matters Initiative will comprise the following five streams of activity over an initial three-year period: n Learning and understanding best practice: research within the veterinary profession, for example, into occupational stress factors; and among other related professions and private and public sector organisations that have successfully tackled similar issues. n Changing the culture: a programme of communications activities to help generate a positive environment for discussion, reduce stigma, increase awareness and the ability to identify risks, and encourage help-seeking behaviour. n Intervention – personal level: financial and other support for existing services, such as the Vet Helpline and Veterinary Surgeons Health Support Programme, together with an investigation into what more may be required to support those in need.
602 | Veterinary Record | December 20/27, 2014
n Intervention – supporting the supporters: training and guidance for those who may be working or living with someone who needs assistance, to help supporters spot and understand signs of stress and mental illness, and help the person seek expert help. n Making changes: working closely with the joint RCVS/BVA Vet Futures project (www.vetfutures.org.uk) (VR, November 29, 2014, vol 175, pp 518, 519-520) to help identify aspects of how the profession is structured and run (from student to retirement) that exacerbate stress and mental health problems, and consider how they can be addressed. ‘Mental health is a significant issue for the veterinary profession,’ said Neil Smith, RCVS vice-president and chair of the Mind Matters Initiative. ‘Most of us have experience of colleagues or ourselves having problems. The Mind Matters Initiative is a pan-profession project, and I am very pleased that there is active engagement from across the various veterinary associations and stakeholders.’ The initiative is being supported by a group comprising the VBF, the BVA, the British Veterinary Nursing Association, the Veterinary Practice Management Association, the Veterinary Schools Council, the Veterinary Defence Society and the Association of Veterinary Students. doi: 10.1136/vr.g7690
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on March 21, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Helpline strengthened by mental health and wellbeing initiative Veterinary Record 2014 175: 602
doi: 10.1136/vr.g7690 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/175/24/602.1
These include:
Email alerting service
Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
