The RCVS Mind Matters Initiative has awarded £20,000 to a research project which will look at whether there is enough mental health education in the student veterinary nursing curriculum.

The grant has been awarded to Dr Faye Didymus and Dr Jackie Hargreaves (pictured) from Leeds Beckett University who aim to address a potential lack of understanding surrounding the importance of mental health education in the learning paths of student veterinary nurses.

This will be done through a scoping review of mental health education during student veterinary nursing curricula.

The review will be supplemented by interviews with tutors, veterinary nurse students and qualified veterinary nurses to understand their experiences of and levels of exposure to mental health education.

It is hoped this research will culminate in a set of evidence-based recommendations for how mental health education for student veterinary nurses could be enhanced.

Dr Faye Didymus said: “Maintaining good mental health is vital for job satisfaction, retention, and performance, and integrating mental health education into veterinary nursing courses is one way that veterinary nurse mental health can be supported, as it allows people to develop essential skills that will benefit their lives beyond education.”

“However, little is known about what mental health education is provided across veterinary nursing diplomas and degrees or if there is a consistent approach.

"Throughout the research, we aim to build a clearer picture of the current provision, so we can create evidence-based recommendations for the optimisation of veterinary nursing education.”

Mind Matters Initiative Manager, Lisa Quigley, said: “Much of the research into veterinary mental health has so far been centred around veterinary surgeons so we were keen to fund a veterinary nurse focussed project to help close that knowledge gap.

"The veterinary field encompasses the entire veterinary team, and we cannot afford to overlook a group that makes up much of the working veterinary population and who are vital for the functioning of the sector. It is essential that we support our veterinary nurses throughout their careers and provide them with the knowledge and tools to look after their own mental wellbeing from the outset.

“Research plays a major role in this, and we are delighted to be funding a fully nurse-based project.”

https://vetmindmatters.org/mind-matters-mental-health-research-symposium-2023. 

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