Mind Matters Initiative marks Stress Awareness Month with new guide for veterinary workplaces

This month, our Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) is launching a new, free guide designed to help veterinary professionals and employers understand and manage stress in the workplace.

The launch of the guide coincides with Stress Awareness Month, an international annual event, which aims to educate the public about the causes and effects of stress, promote effective stress management techniques, encourage open conversations to reduce stigma, and provide resources and support on stress management. The theme this year is ‘#LeadwithLove’, aiming to encourage everyone to ‘approach ourselves and others with kindness, compassion, and acceptance, no matter the challenges we face’.

The new Understanding and managing stress in the veterinary workplace (Revised edition) guide has been written and developed by Elinor O’Connor, Professor of Occupational Psychology at Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, in partnership with MMI. It is the first guide to be published as part of MMI’s new Applied Mental Health Science series – a series of informative and practical guides aimed at supporting veterinary professionals and workplaces through evidence-based research on a range of mental health related topics, in line with MMI’s five-year strategy.

Rapinder Newton, MMI Lead (pictured right), said: "At the RCVS we aim to be a compassionate regulator, and through MMI we aim to support the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary professionals in both a personal and professional capacity. We also aim to support employers and leaders to create supportive and healthy workforces, where individuals and teams are supported to be the best they can be and allow them to flourish. This further links to the RCVS Workforce Action Plan, which is committed to supporting veterinary professionals at all stages of their careers.

"For us, working with qualified professionals who are up to date on the latest research is essential. We have therefore worked alongside Elinor, who has practised as an occupational psychologist in a range of sectors, to help us create an evidence-based guide which can be used by practices and individuals alike to help understand and manage stress in the veterinary workplace. Most recently Elinor has been conducting a programme of applied research on work-related stress and wellbeing in veterinarians. She has used this knowledge to help create this guide, which is free to download and available to all those working in the UK veterinary sector.

"I would like to thank Elinor for all her hard work and invaluable input on this project and for also speaking on this topic at our session at the British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress in March."

Elinor O’Connor (pictured left) added: "We know that veterinary work can be stressful, and that stress can have negative impacts on wellbeing and mental health, and it is of utmost importance that individuals and organisations are equipped with the tools to manage stress effectively. In the 2024 RCVS Surveys of the Professions, 91% of veterinary surgeons and 93% of veterinary nurses, of those surveyed, agreed that their work is stressful.

"Our new Understanding stress in the veterinary workplace guide builds on an original edition published in 2018 to ensure that the evidence-based advice remains up to date, effective, and relevant. It includes information on a range of topics, from addressing and managing workplace stress, to exploring the role of leaders and line managers in supporting wellbeing at work, as well as how to have a conversation with a colleague about their wellbeing.

"This guide serves as a comprehensive resource for both individuals and organisations, providing practical tips to support teams and individuals to thrive."

To download the Understanding and managing stress in the veterinary workplace guide for free, visit the Mind Matters website.

If you are currently experiencing mental health challenges, there are many sources of support which you can reach out to. Vetlife is there for you 24/7 and can be reached on: 0303 040 2551. Samaritans also provide 24/7 support and can be reached on 116 123 or by emailing [email protected]. You can also contact a GP or call NHS 111. If you are in crisis, ring 999 or visit your local A&E department.