MMI launches new veterinary mental health research grant programme

On Thursday 15 August 2024, our Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) launched its new veterinary mental health research grant programme and is calling upon mental health researchers to consider applying.

The programme, which aims to drive change that will positively impact mental health in the veterinary sector, offers two new research grants. The first is a £5,000 Discovery Grant, targeted at postgraduate or early career researchers looking to kick-start small-scale studies. The second is a £15,000 Impact Grant, aimed at more established researchers working on more substantial medium-sized projects.

All study applications must reflect at least one of MMI’s strategic areas of focus for 2024/25, which are:

• Veterinary suicide  
• Veterinary occupational stressors, trauma and burnout  
• Mental health in veterinary education 
• Veterinary workplace leadership and mental health
• Veterinary mental health and inclusion 

RCVS Council member and new Chair of Mind Matters, Dr Louise Allum, said: “Over the past five years, MMI has awarded £120,000 in research grants to support mental health in the veterinary professions under the Sarah Brown Mental Health Research Grant.

“Sarah, a former RCVS Council member and fierce mental health advocate, sadly passed away in 2017. The Sarah Brown Mental Health Research Grants were subsequently set up in her honour in 2019. Both I, and the whole team at the RCVS, would like to thank Sarah’s family for their ongoing support of our work and for allowing us to continue her legacy in such a fitting way.

“While the new research grant programme will no longer be known as the Sarah Brown Mental Health Research Grant, this new programme of funding two grants per year will help us make progress and tangible change for all members of the veterinary professions.”

“While the new research grant programme will no longer be known as the Sarah Brown Mental Health Research Grant, this new programme of funding two grants per year will help us make progress and tangible change for all members of the veterinary professions.”

MMI Lead Rapinder Newton, added: “According to our recent Disability and Chronic Illness Survey, which was undertaken by the RCVS in collaboration with British Veterinary Chronic Illness Support, 65.7% of participants who identified as having a mental health condition said it impacted their life on a daily basis. While this statistic only provides a small snapshot of the current situation, it is evident that more research is needed in the veterinary mental health research space so that we can find new demonstrable ways of supporting people as much as possible.

“The RCVS is committed to being a compassionate regulator, and we want to help support our professionals to be the best that they can be, so that they can thrive in their roles and continue to work in the best interests of animal health and welfare, and public health.

“We are looking for high quality research proposals that display relevance and originality; appropriateness, rigour and inclusiveness; feasibility; and potential for impact with clear outputs.

“The RCVS is committed to being a compassionate regulator, and we want to help support our professionals to be the best that they can be, so that they can thrive in their roles and continue to work in the best interests of animal health and welfare, and public health."

“Research has the power to create meaningful and long-term systemic change. So, as well as providing the initial funding for projects, we are keen to support our grant recipients throughout their entire research journeys, as far as is reasonable. Having the right support plays a key part in amplifying impact, so, whether that be through supporting with recruitment, producing press and media assets, providing insight into the veterinary professions, or general research dissemination, we aim to be a supportive funder.”

If you are interested in applying for either the MMI Impact Grant or MMI Discovery Grant, more information can be found on the Mind Matters website where an application form, and guidance on how to complete the application form, is also available to download. Please note that applicant researchers must be UK-based and have relevant research expertise and/or experience, and be formally employed or affiliated with a university, higher education institute, or research-based institute in the UK. Those employed or affiliated with an NHS organisation which acts as the host institute are also welcome to apply.

All forms must be sent to [email protected] by 23:59pm BST on Monday 7 October 2024. If you have any queries about applying or the application process, please contact the MMI team at [email protected].

If you would like to apply but are not currently in a position to do so, the next cycle of grants will be launching in spring 2025.