Celebrating ten years of RCVS Mind Matters - final call for mental health research symposium submissions

With just one month to go before the submission deadline, our Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) is reminding researchers to submit abstracts for its 2025 veterinary mental health research symposium. The event will be held on 10 October at Eastside Rooms, in Birmingham, UK.  

MMI Lead, Rapinder Newton (pictured below) said: “This year is an important milestone for MMI. Not only are we hosting our fifth biennial veterinary mental health research symposium, but it is also our tenth anniversary. 

“Evidence based research plays an essential role in our work at MMI. It allows us to shape our understanding, helps us enhance policy and practice, and create support mechanisms specifically tailored to veterinary professionals. 

“Mental health researchers from around the globe and at all career stages are invited to submit an abstract and become a part of our symposium. Researchers can choose to submit for either an oral or poster presentation. We aim to support and showcase high quality research with ethical approval, which can cover a range of topics related to mental health, but that align with our strategic areas of focus. 

“We have come a long way in developing our understanding of mental health in veterinary professionals over the past ten years but still have a way to go. Fittingly, the theme for this year’s symposium is ‘Advancing veterinary mental health research: learning from the past, considering the present, and looking to the future’. Only through continued collaboration with mental health researchers, and learning from other allied professions, can we efficiently work towards our shared goal of enhancing mental health and support within the veterinary professions.” 

In order to submit an abstract, please use the MMI abstract guide which includes information on the submission process and entry criteria.  

For more information about the symposium and how to submit an abstract, please visit the Mind Matters website, where the abstract submission guide and submission forms are available to download. 

All abstract submissions must be completed and sent via email to [email protected] by 11.59pm on Friday 28 February 2025.