Mind Matters announces further funding for mental health in VN education project

The Mind Matters Initiative and the RCVS Veterinary Nursing Department have awarded a joint £40,000 research grant to a project that aims to integrate mental health training into the veterinary nursing education.

The Veterinary Educator Training in Mental Health Integration and Nurse Development (VET-MIND) project is led by Dr Faye Didymus, Reader in Sport and Performance Psychology, and Dr Jackie Hargreaves, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, both of whom are based at the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University.

VET-MIND builds on a previous Mind Matters funded research project from Dr Didymus and Dr Hargreaves (pictured) in 2023 that had explored how mental health and wellbeing is integrated into the learning paths of Student Veterinary Nurses (SVNs), in order to produce a set of evidence-based recommendations for how mental health education for veterinary nursing students could be enhanced.

The new three-year project takes the recommendations from the previous research with the aim of upskilling veterinary nurse educators in further and higher education on how to integrate mental health principles into their curricula so that they have the confidence, knowledge and skills to put this into practice.

Dr Didymus from the research team said: “We’re delighted to receive this funding. It’s a valuable opportunity to deepen understanding of mental health in the underserved veterinary professions. We are committed to a research agenda that aims to improve the mental health of veterinary nurses and are thrilled to have the support of the RCVS and MMI to continue our work in this area.

“VET-MIND builds on our previous research into mental health among SVNs, veterinary nurse educators, and registered veterinary nurses (RVNs).

“In that work, we found that veterinary nurse educators working in further and higher education need more support to deliver education that embeds mental health principles and, in doing so, sustains students’ mental health. VET-MIND responds directly to this need by co-designing practical solutions with those who are educating the next generation of nurses.”

The £40,000 funding will be used to: co-design mental health training webinars deliver interactive training to VN educators in higher and further education; and, evaluate the impact of learning over time.

The grant also aligns with a current commitment within the Mind Matters Strategy, published in May 2023, on ensuring the initiative is working for ‘lesser heard voices’ within the veterinary professions, which includes RVNs and SVNs, and undertakes targeted projects to meet their needs.

Julie Dugmore (pictured), our Director of Veterinary Nursing, said: “VET-MIND has the potential to transform the way mental health education is embedded across veterinary nurse training. By equipping educators with practical tools and the confidence to integrate mental health principles into everyday teaching, the project supports more responsive, reflective, and psychologically informed learning environments.

“This benefits not only educators, but also students, who gain vital self-efficacy and wellbeing skills that strengthen their readiness for professional practice. The project provides evidence-based guidance that enhances curriculum design, supports learner welfare, and contributes to developing a future workforce that is both clinically competent and mentally resilient.”

To find out more about the Mind Matters Initiative, including how and why it funds research into veterinary mental health and wellbeing, visit the project's dedicated research page. 

For further information about the study itself, please contact either Dr Hargreaves at [email protected], or Dr Didymus at [email protected]