How can biomedical scientists manage worry, anxiety and stress and boost mental wellbeing in the midst of the pandemic?What mental health support has been put in place and how do we ensure these services are maintained and expanded post-pandemic?Dr Jo Horne is a consultant Biomedical Scientist in Gastrointestinal & Hepatobiliary Histopathology at University Hospital Southampton Trust. She has been helping colleagues cope with the pressures that the pandemic has put on their mental health. Jo discusses the issues biomedical scientists have faced during COVID-19, her role alongside her main work as a ‘safe space practitioner' delivering psychological first aid and if the increased emphasis on supporting mental wellbeing during Covid-19 will lead to permanent change post-pandemic. Jo also chats about her scientific work, talking us through the dissection and reporting process in Histopathology and answers a question about encouraging women into STEM in light of International Women’s Day on the 8th March and faces our quick-fire round.In LabLife, we caught up with Cherie Beckett, Biomedical Scientist in Microbiology. She chatted to us about her work outside the lab hosting the IBMS Twitter chat and volunteering to show a child who has leukaemia around her laboratory for the charity Harvey’s Gang. Also features IBMS news – a roundup of all the latest developments from the IBMS. Presented by IBMS Communications officer Ella Fornari.Show Notes:Episode Outline:Links to further resources:IBMS News:Bookings open for Congress 2022:https://www.ibms.org/resources/news/congress-2022-think-ahead-book-now/IBMS awards three prestigious members’ honours:https://www.ibms.org/resources/news/our-newest-honorary-fellow-and-life-members/ NHS pilots “do-it-at-home” cervical screeningshttps://www.ibms.org/resources/news/home-cervical-screenings/New Member Support Video:https://www.ibms.org/resources/news/ibms-member-support-video/Interviews with Jo & Cherie:Interview with Jo’s female science hero, Elaine Cloutman-Green: https://microbiologysociety.org/membership/meet-our-members/focus-area-clinical-health-related-microbiology/an-interview-with-dr-elaine-cloutman-green.htmlJo Horne twitter: https://twitter.com/hornej13?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EauthorIBMS Chat Hashtag (every first Wednesday of the month, 8-9pm):https://twitter.com/hashtag/IBMSChat?src=hashtag_click&f=liveCherie wins Amazing Individual Award: https://www.ibms.org/resources/news/cherie-beckett-wins-amazing/Cherie Beckett twitter: https://twitter.com/CDBeckett?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor