Vets host ground-breaking mental health conference for the medical professions
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has joined forces with Maudsley Learning to host a ground-breaking conference to address mental health issues across the medical professions.
The one-day event, Medical Minds Matter, will take place on 28 October 2015 at Maudsley Learning’s ORTUS learning and events centre in South London. It aims better to understand the mental health challenges affecting medical professionals – such as veterinary surgeons, doctors, dentists and pharmacists – and to facilitate the sharing of learning and best practice around supporting individuals and addressing the issues.
The conference is part of the Mind Matters Initiative, a five-year project funded and run by the RCVS to help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness in the veterinary profession, develop a culture where help-seeking is accepted, improve access to sources of appropriate help, and facilitate the sharing of best practice in terms of intervention and support.
“Medical Minds Matter will be a unique event, bringing together a diverse range of medical professionals for the first time to tackle an issue that is, sadly, one that looms large for many professions,” says Colonel Neil Smith, Chair of the Mind Matters Initiative.
“There is much we can learn from each other, and we hope that the event will help delegates develop a shared understanding of common issues and successful interventions, as well as paving the way for future collaborations across the professions.”
The day will include speakers from organisations including The Royal College of General Practitioners, the University of Bath, King’s College London, Pharmacist Support, the Doctors’ Support Network, the SAFEMED Programme, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and the Dentists’ Health Support Programme.
Workshop sessions will focus on shared themes, such as peer support and resilience building; cognitive behavioural therapy; and, tackling stigma. There will also be the opportunity to share ideas for future collaboration.
Tickets, which cost £45 for professionals and £25 for students and researchers, are available at http://medicalmindsmatter.eventbrite.co.uk/
For more information, please view the flyer at http://bit.ly/Medical-Minds-Matter
