MMI Campfire Chat: Managing Mental Health and Menopause

The MMI Campfire chats are back! Join the MMI Team and our fantastic guests for an informal delve into themes and topics that matter to the veterinary community. Open to all, these free online panel sessions offer a chance to pause, reflect and learn from each other’s experiences of navigating life and work.

Managing Mental Health and Menopause

In this MMI Campfire Chat....

For half of the entire population, menopause is a natural part of the aging process. Studies consistently show that around 80% of those who go through menopause experience negative physical and mental effects, and these are moderate to severe in 30% of those people. To mark World Menopause Month this October, join us and our brilliant panellists for an open and honest conversation about menopause, mental health, and the veterinary professions.

Panel Guests

Dr Liz Barton MRCVS

Liz graduated in 2004 and has enjoyed a varied career including mixed practice, SA internship, ECC work and shelter medicine. She now works as Head of Communications for VetCT.

Liz co-founded WellVet in 2018, to increase the accessibility of wellbeing tools to the profession through live and online events. She also co-founded the 5000 strong Vet Mums Facebook community to provide support and awareness of the challenges of parenting in the profession. As a SPVS board member, Liz also helped carry out a recent survey into Menopause and the Effect on Veterinary Professionals and Teams, run jointly by SPVS and Veterinary Woman.

Dr Melissa Donald MRCVS

RCVS council member Melissa Donald graduated from Glasgow University in 1987 and started her career as a food animal intern at Iowa State University in the USA. In 1990 she joined a 2-person traditional mixed practice on the Ayrshire coast and over the following 25 years developed it to a 4.5 vet 100% small animal practice.

Since 2016 Melissa has juggled a portfolio non clinical career primarily with Red Tractor Farm Assurance and as an elected member of RCVS Council, as a farmer and Scottish SPCA Trustee. Melissa is currently Chair of RCVS Standards committee and JVP.

Last year, Melissa spoke out about breaking the taboo surrounding menopause in the work place in her blog article, Menopause matters: How can we support women in veterinary workplaces, which was published on the BVA website. She is a past president of BVA Scottish Branch and passionate about the role of exercise in mental wellbeing.

Nikki Ruedisueli RVN

Nikki qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1985 and after ten years in a small animal orthopaedic referral practice, moved to work for Mars UK. Nikki worked in a number of areas at Mars including Veterinary Business Manager, Veterinary Nurse at the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition and Communications Executive. Nikki’s passion for education and the VN profession led her to move to Nottingham Trent University to write the FdSc Veterinary Nursing Course in 2007. Nikki also keeps her clinical skills up to date by working in a local veterinary hospital as a weekend nurse. In 2019 Nikki progressed to the BVNA to become the Head of Learning and Development which allows her to be a part of representing the VN profession and improving their impact in practice.

Nikki has been affected by the menopause for over 10 years with classic signs such as hot flushes every couple of hours, brain fog, irritability and insomnia. Having not discussed how the menopause affected her with previous managers and brushing it off with jokes, Nikki feels that we should be open about how we are affected and to ask for support.

Programme timings and information

7:00 - 8:00pm

The interactive session will be held online, via Zoom.

This event counts towards your CPD.

Cost

There is no charge to attend this event.

Register here

Contact us

Should you have any questions, please email the RCVS Events Team