Help the Helpers!
The overarching aim of the BALM project is to develop, deliver and evaluate a gender-sensitised Behavioural Activation (BA) programme as an early intervention for low mood and anxiety in male frontline NHS workers.
Frontline National Health Service (NHS) staff are at increased risk of mental health difficulties due to exposure to many different workplace stressors. Male frontline workers in particular are often reluctant to acknowledge or seek help for mental health concerns, even though they are more likely to suffer from these issues.
Recent evidence of increased anxiety, depression, suicide and burn-out among frontline health workers show that the healthcare system is unable to effectively “help the helpers”.
Behavioural Activation (BA) is an effective intervention that can be used to help prevent common mental illnesses. The BALM project is the first to tailor a BA approach for men working in the frontline of healthcare.
