BSAVA launches resilience training to support World Mental Health Day

10 October 2018

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) says World Mental Health Day (October 10) is the perfect time to announce the launch of ‘resilience training’.

BSAVA President Philip Lhermette heralded ‘unprecedented holistic support’ for the profession and said it was important to celebrate the strength of the veterinary community in tackling mental wellbeing issues.

The new resilience training CPD days, run in conjunction with RCVS, will be rolled out from next year. They follow BSAVA’s successful launch of the ‘Beyond the Clinics’ personal development stream at BSAVA Congress in April, a sold out series of Mind Matters CPD courses across all 12 regions, and its popular ‘No Blame’ regional lectures on physical and mental health running throughout this year in conjunction with the Veterinary Defence Society.

Philip Lhermette said: “On World Mental Health Day it is important to commend the veterinary community for its much-needed efforts to support mental wellbeing issues, and to recognise that many practising veterinary professionals must learn to cope with distressing situations on a daily basis.

“Our latest training aims to help participants take a balanced and holistic view of the difficult situations they find themselves in at work, build resilience in dealing with stress and tackle the stigma about mental illness that may prevent people seeking help. They are completely free to BSAVA members and available for the whole profession to book.”

Mental ill-health will affect one in four people over the next 12 months and in England, one in six people will experience a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and  depression) in any given week. There are particular issues within the veterinary profeession, with higher than average rates of suicide, and patterns of distress, anxiety and depression, among other illnesses.