MMI and BSAVA launch new emotional resilience courses

Our Mind Matters Initiative, in partnership with the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA), are launching new emotional resilience courses, with the first course taking place in November this year.

Titled ‘Emotional Resilience for the Veterinary Team’, the one-day courses are free to BSAVA members and are designed to equip participants with an understanding of the role emotional resilience plays in protecting our mental wellbeing.

“Emotional resilience is mainly a learned behaviour, however our level of resilience is not static, and we can take steps to increase our resilience and reduce our risk of developing mental health issues including clinical depression. This new programme is suitable for anyone who wishes to increase their own resilience and develop the ability to help others at work or at home,” says RCVS Mind Matters Initiative Manager Lisa Quigley.

“It is important to note that building resilience, particularly within the veterinary professions, is not about telling people that they should ‘put up’ with bad work environments – we are aware that so many veterinary practices take steps to ensure supportive and positive work environments for their teams. It is instead about giving individuals the tools to support and enable them to cope with the challenges that the veterinary professions bring – and this is what these new courses aim to do.”

BSAVA President Sue Paterson expands: “BSAVA has worked closely with RCVS and Mind Matters Initiative for several years and the new resilience courses are the next phase in this area of focus. It is essential to give all members of the veterinary practice the tools to develop resilience in themselves and to support each other and we are delighted BSAVA is able to provide these courses for our members and for the wider veterinary profession”.

Part one of the course focuses on emotional resilience, particularly within the veterinary professions. Part two of the course focuses on the life skills of highly resilient people including listening, using strategy to solve problems, managing emotions, building social capital and knowing how to access help.

Mary Bannon, Programme Manager, from PIPS Programmes CIC, who are delivering the training, says of the course: “This workshop is designed for the whole practice team and encourages participants to work in groups. No personal disclosures are necessary during the course – although participants are very welcome to discuss private issues after the workshop. PIPS Programmes CIC are delighted to be part of this MMI/BSAVA initiative”

The courses are free to BSAVA members and cost £40.00 (including VAT) for non-members. Find out more and purchase tickets here.