Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on May 11, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Letters
Letters RCVS
Mind Matters Initiative IT has long been perceived that the veterinary profession has relatively high rates of mental health problems. There are very few of us who have not had personal experience of a member of the veterinary team experiencing and exhibiting signs of distress or, very sadly, taking their own life. During my time on the RCVS presidential team I have met hundreds of veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and practice managers at many events. These include the Recent Graduate Seminars, RCVS Regional Question Times and many conferences, and the subject of mental health in the profession often comes up. We have decided to try to do more to address this large and difficult subject. With strong pan-profession support, including the Veterinary Benevolent Fund, the Veterinary Schools Council, the Association of Veterinary Students UK and Ireland, BVA, the British Veterinary Nursing Association, the Veterinary Defence Society and the Veterinary Practice Management Association, we have discussed how to define and address the problem. I am therefore delighted by the recent the launch of the Mind Matters Initiative (MMI). The aim of the MMI (see also VR, December 20/27, 2014, vol 175, p 604) is to build upon the success of the existing sources of mental health information and support for those in need, by adding financial and other resources. In addition, we will be developing new activities to help improve the culture in which we work in order to help prevent and destigmatise mental health issues, and to enhance the sources of help that are available (including support for the valuable supporters of those in need). We will also be looking critically at what it is about our profession that, while it remains a dream vocation for many, causes such a dark shadow to be cast for a significant number. I hope the profession at large will engage with the MMI, contribute to its development and make good use of its outputs and initiatives. Neil Smith, Vice-President, RCVS, Belgravia House, 62-64 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF e-mail: [email protected] doi: 10.1136/vr.g7770 24 | Veterinary Record | January 3, 2015
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on May 11, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Mind Matters Initiative Neil Smith Veterinary Record 2015 176: 24
doi: 10.1136/vr.g7770 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/176/1/24.2
These include:
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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/
Letters
Letters RCVS
Mind Matters Initiative IT has long been perceived that the veterinary profession has relatively high rates of mental health problems. There are very few of us who have not had personal experience of a member of the veterinary team experiencing and exhibiting signs of distress or, very sadly, taking their own life. During my time on the RCVS presidential team I have met hundreds of veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and practice managers at many events. These include the Recent Graduate Seminars, RCVS Regional Question Times and many conferences, and the subject of mental health in the profession often comes up. We have decided to try to do more to address this large and difficult subject. With strong pan-profession support, including the Veterinary Benevolent Fund, the Veterinary Schools Council, the Association of Veterinary Students UK and Ireland, BVA, the British Veterinary Nursing Association, the Veterinary Defence Society and the Veterinary Practice Management Association, we have discussed how to define and address the problem. I am therefore delighted by the recent the launch of the Mind Matters Initiative (MMI). The aim of the MMI (see also VR, December 20/27, 2014, vol 175, p 604) is to build upon the success of the existing sources of mental health information and support for those in need, by adding financial and other resources. In addition, we will be developing new activities to help improve the culture in which we work in order to help prevent and destigmatise mental health issues, and to enhance the sources of help that are available (including support for the valuable supporters of those in need). We will also be looking critically at what it is about our profession that, while it remains a dream vocation for many, causes such a dark shadow to be cast for a significant number. I hope the profession at large will engage with the MMI, contribute to its development and make good use of its outputs and initiatives. Neil Smith, Vice-President, RCVS, Belgravia House, 62-64 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF e-mail: [email protected] doi: 10.1136/vr.g7770 24 | Veterinary Record | January 3, 2015
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on May 11, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Mind Matters Initiative Neil Smith Veterinary Record 2015 176: 24
doi: 10.1136/vr.g7770 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/176/1/24.2
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/
