Mind Matters Initiative Research Symposium 2025

On Friday 10 October 2025, The RCVS will be celebrating 10 years of Mind Matters and are inviting all those interested in the field of veterinary mental health to get involved in our 2025 mental health research symposium – Advancing veterinary mental health research: learning from the past, considering the present, and looking to the future.

Our symposium presents a fantastic opportunity for knowledge exchange in the veterinary mental health research sphere so that, together, we can continue to foster a compassionate environment and build a solid evidence-base for veterinary mental health research to grow and evolve.

Across the day, delegates will have the opportunity to hear from a range of speakers, with an opportunity to network with fellow colleagues and exhibitors.

Refreshments and lunch will be provided across the day.

The symposium is open to all those with an interest in veterinary professionals mental health.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Veterinary surgeons
• Registered veterinary nurses
• Students (including veterinary students and student veterinary nurses)
• Practice leaders, managers and receptionists
• Academics, educators and researchers
• Healthcare professionals and clinicians
• Policy makers
• Media and press
• Mental health advocates and campaigners

The following rates will apply:

• Early Bird Rate (from May 2025 to End of August 2025) - £45.00pp
• Standard Rate (from 1 September 2025 to October 2025) - £75.00pp.

Concessionary rate

Students 18+ studying a full-time veterinary/mental health/psychology related course, and those who are currently unemployed or retired, may be entitled to a concessionary rate or free ticket. Those in these categories should email c3ltcG9zaXVtIHwgcmN2cyAhIG9yZyAhIHVr for further information on how to apply.

Speakers and presenters:

Please note if you are the lead author and have been invited to present, you will receive instructions on how to register for your ticket.

Registration process:

When completing the Eventbrite form, you will be asked to complete a number of key details, including:

• Your full name
• Contact details
• Your role, organisation (where applicable) and context
• Accessibility and dietary requirements

09:00 - 09:45am - Registration, refreshments and welcome

10:00 - 10:30am - Welcome, opening remarks and reflecting on 10 years of the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative - Lizzie Lockett, RCVS Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

10:30 - 10:55am - Recent developments from MMI - RCVS MMI, and Diversity and Inclusion Teams

11:00-11:30am - Morning refreshment break, poster presentations and networking

11:30 - 12:55pm - Morning research talks

12:55 - 1:55pm - Lunch break

1:55 - 3:15pm - Afternoon research talks

3:20 - 3:55pm - Afternoon refreshment break, poster presentations and networking

3:55 - 4:05pm - Mental health research grant recipients 2025

4:05pm - 4:30pm - Summary and closing remarks

4:30 - 6:00pm - Networking reception

6:00pm - Event closes

There will be an opportunity to network throughout the day.

*Please note event timings and programme content are subject to change.

On the day, delegates will have the chance to hear from previous Mind Matters Mental Health Research Grant recipients.

Our research topics include:

Morning session:

• Mental health education in veterinary nursing curricula: a multivocality qualitative study of further and higher education. Dr Jackie Hargreaves and Dr Faye Didymus, Leeds Beckett University, UK
• Mental health, alcohol use behaviours and barriers to help seeking within UK veterinary practice: the MAB-VET study Dr Jennifer Seddon and Dr Olivia Cormier MRCVS, Oxford Brookes University, UK
• Nursing Matters: A mixed-methods study of workplace mental health in UK veterinary nurses and nursing students. Dr Naomi King, Research Assistant, Royal Veterinary College, UK
• “For three of my four miscarriages, I was at work”: Workplace management of UK veterinary professionals’ miscarriage, infertility and assisted fertility. Dr Zoe Belshaw FRCVS, Consultant, EviVet Research Consultancy, UK

Afternoon session:

• Confronting taken-for-granted truths – a systematic review of risk and protective factors associated with suicide risk in veterinary professionals. James Glass MRCVS, Postgraduate Researcher (PhD), University of Glasgow, UK

• Organisational contributors and intervention strategies to address burnout in veterinary nurses. Angela Chapman RVN, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Nursing, La Trobe University, Australia
• Staff experiences of teaching neurodivergent veterinary students in clinical learning environments. Dr Kirstie Pickles MRCVS, EDI Lead, Harper-Keele Veterinary School, UK
• How does attendance at Schwartz Rounds impact veterinary professionals experience in clinical practice? Dr Emma Ormandy MRCVS, Head of Veterinary Education, University of Liverpool, UK

Our poster presentations include:

Developing a stress risk management plan for residents in training: reflections from the first phase of an action research occupational health initiative, Dr Glen Cousquer MRCVS, Lecturer and Programme Coordinator, University of Edinburgh, UK

Enhancing veterinary workplace wellbeing through coaching: evaluation of the 2024 VetJoy Voucher Programme, Dr Wiebke Jansen, Veterinary Policy Officer, Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE), Belgium

Widening participation or widening the gap? Experiences of Muslim students at veterinary schools: a thematic analysis, Dr Adeel Khan MRCVS, Clinical Assistant Professor in Equine Internal Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK

Moral dissonance in veterinary educators, Hamish Morrin RVN, Lecturer in Clinical Communication Skills, University of Lancashire, UK

Transformational leadership as a buffer against stress and emotional exhaustion in UK veterinary professionals, Roanneth (Chawi) Slater-Brown RVN, Associate Lecturer in Psychology, University of Wolverhampton, UK

What is the experience of neurodivergent veterinary students in clinical learning environments?, Dr Sabine Tötemeyer, Associate Professor, University of Nottingham, UK

Title TBC,Professor Stuart Reid FRCVS, President and Principal, Royal Veterinary College

We are pleased to welcome a number of exhibitors to this year's symposium, including:

• Blue Cross (Pet Loss Support)
• British Horse Society (Friends at the End)
• Cats Protection (Paws to Listen)
• Change Mental Health
• Farming Community Network
• Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies)
• Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI)
• StreetVet
• The Links Group
• Vetlife
• VetSupport

Our fifth Research symposium takes place at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, UK.

The Eastside Rooms is a purpose built conference centre located in central Birmingham, opened with the aim of bringing leading events and international names to the region.

The full address for the event is:

The Eastside Rooms
2 Woodcock Street
Birmingham
B7 4BL

What 3 Words: https://w3w.co/hammer.equal.dads

Access and facilities:

The venue has been chosen as it can provide:

• Free and unlimited high-speed Wi-Fi access
• Air conditioning
• Cloakroom
• Accessible toilets and lifts
• Induction loop system
• A quiet room will be available for those who may need some time to decompress
• A multi faith room
• Catering for all special dietary requirements (you will be able to indicate this on booking)
• Assistance dogs are also welcome at the venue (please just let us know in advance, so we can let the venue know).
• Free blue badge parking at the Millennium Point NCP Car Park.

For further information, please visit the Eastside Rooms website.

Support and inclusion on the day:

On the day, for those that require support, there will be trained and certified Mental Health First Aiders.

A quiet room will also be available for those may need some time away to decompress.

Travel

By Car

• Near the Midlands motorway network with the M6, M42 and M5 in close proximity. M6 J6 is just two miles away
• Millennium Point Multi-Storey Car Park (B4 7AP) is located across the road from The Eastside Rooms.

By Plane

• Birmingham International Airport (9 miles away, approx. 20 to 30 minutes)
• Manchester (78 miles away, approx. 1 hour 30 minutes)
• Heathrow (115 miles away, approx. 2 hours)

By Bus/Taxi

• West Midlands Bus Route 66, with a bus stop outside of the venue
• A2B Radio Cars – Call 0121 744 1111

By Train

• Birmingham New Street Station – Serviced by Cross Country, Avanti West Coast, London Northwestern Rail, Transport for Wales and West Midlands Railway (15 - minutes walk)
• Birmingham Moor Street Station (10 - minute walk)
• Snow Hill Station (10 - minute walk)

Listed below are a number of hotels which are local to the venue. Please note the RCVS have not inspected their suitability for the event, they have been chosen because of their proximity of the venue.

• Aloft Birmingham Eastside - The RCVS has been allocated a discount rates at this hotel, to book please use the Aloft Birmingham Eastside booking link to secure your reservation. Please note these are available on a first come first served basis.

• Mariott Hotel
• Premier Inn Birmingham City – Aston
• Premier Inn Birmingham City Centre (Exchange Square)
• Clayton Hotel
• Travelodge Birmingham Central Moor Street
• Holiday Inn Express

If you are thinking of staying for the weekend, you may like to find out what's on, by visiting the Visit Birmingham website.

Can you reserve me a place and I book at a later date?

Sorry, we are unable to reserve places, tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Can I book on Eventbrite and pay via invoice?

Unfortunately we are unable to raise invoices for the associated costs. Payment must be made via Eventbrite at the time of booking.

What is the refund policy?

If you are unable to attend the Symposium please inform the RCVS by Friday, 26 September 2025 and we will refund the cost of the ticket.

Also check out other Health & Wellness events in Birmingham, Nonprofit events in Birmingham, Workshops in Birmingham.