Re-thinking wellbeing - why cake and pizza don't work (LVS25)

Traditional wellbeing initiatives in veterinary workplaces often miss the real drivers of staff wellbeing and performance. This session challenges the mental health paradigm and introduces the Psychologically Healthy Organisation (PHO) model: a practical, evidence-based framework grounded in psychological science. By focusing on organisational factors such as autonomy, collegiality, and safety, the PHO model helps veterinary practices systematically measure, design, and sustain environments where wellbeing and organisational performance are optimised.

• Differentiate between individual-focused mental health approaches and system-level organisational wellbeing strategies.
• Describe the key components of the Psychologically Healthy Organisation (PHO) model and their relevance to veterinary settings.
• Identify practical ways to assess and improve psychological health within their own veterinary teams or organisations.

Chairperson

Rob Williams, President - BVA

Speakers

Jason Spendelow, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Professional Practice - Keele University and Harper Adams University

Presented at LVS 2025

Thursday, 20 November 2025, 16:10-17:00, BVA Career Development