The project is being carried out by researchers Dr John Tulloch and Dr Tamzin Furtado from the Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University of Liverpool.
Dr Tulloch comments: “Veterinary professionals dedicate their lives to animal welfare, yet they have some of the highest levels of occupational injury of any profession. While physical wounds are documented, the long-term psychological, social and professional repercussions for those requiring hospitalisation remain largely invisible.
“Through our qualitative study, we’ll be using in-depth interviews to capture the lived experiences of vets and nurses navigating life after a major injury, exploring the dual burden of physical recovery and mental health problems.”
The findings will be used to develop “better occupational health protocols and peer-support frameworks to help foster a more supported veterinary workforce”.
Applications for the next round of Mind Matters research grants open early next year.
researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk