About
Early research reports conclude that the Covid-19 lockdown had a major impact on the UK’s mental health, with young people and women particularly at risk. What does that mean for a profession already feeling the strain? Six months on from the national lockdown, a BVA Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey identified stress and burnout in the profession as the number one concern, especially among managers and employees. In this session, in association with Zoetis, we’ll be joined by mental health experts who will explore how Covid-19 has affected the nation’s wellbeing, how it manifested in the veterinary profession, and what strategies veterinary professionals can employ to support themselves and their colleagues as the uncertainty continues.
Agenda
  • Brief background literature on mental health in the veterinary profession pre-COVID
  • Impact of COVID-19: Individual-, and system-level
  • Coping strategies to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and reduce the likelihood of burnout
Presenters
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James Russell
BVA President
James is a 2002 Royal Veterinary College graduate and a post-graduate diploma holder in production animal and livestock medicine. He has over 17 years’ experience working in mixed practice. In September 2018, he stepped down as director of a large veterinary practice in Ashbourne to become an independent veterinary consultant. James has been associated with BVA since 2008 when he joined the Veterinary Policy Group. He went on to become the inaugural East Midlands representative on BVA Council from 2010-2012 and has been Chair of the CPD committee since 2016.
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Dr Donna Rodil DClinPsy PhD CPsychol
Clinical Psychologist and Founder of RAW Mental Health
Donna is a Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist at the NHS. Her expertise is on long-term and severe adult mental health. Prior to being a clinician, she worked as an academic specialising in early psychosis and addiction. She founded RAW Mental Health to help individuals and organisations perform at their best.