Conducted in collaboration with a Clin.Psy.D. student at Sheffield University our research focused on the impact of providing resilience training to early career mental health professionals
Mental health practitioners working in the NHS are subject to high levels of stress which can lead to periods of sickness absence and burnout. Recent research has shown that practitioners suffering from burnout are less effective in their work with service users. The problems associated with burnout are therefore twofold, affecting those who deliver the services and those who access them.
We were interested in helping these workers remain resilient at work to ensure they maintain their own wellbeing and also to improve service user experience.
Together with a Trainee Clinical Psychologist on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Course at Sheffield University, our research aimed to understand the impact of resilience training on trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (TPWPs).
TPWPs are employed in NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) services to provide psychological services to clients experiencing mild to moderate depression and anxiety disorders.
Titled ‘Building Resilience in Early Career Mental Health Professionals' the research showed participants experienced significantly higher resilience 12 weeks after the training. Resilience was also correlated with improved wellbeing and lower levels of burnout, depression and anxiety. There were high levels of satisfaction with the training overall, and participants particularly like the opportunity for self-reflection and learning new skills.
The research has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Mental Health, Education, Training & Practice and will be published later in the year.
If you would like to find out more about any of our research projects, please get in touch.