Behavioural Activation for male frontline NHS workers
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Behavioural Activation for Low mood and anxiety in Male NHS frontline workers: The BALM programme.
IRAS ID
314095
Contact name
Paul Galdas
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of York
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 29 days
Research summary
The BALM (Behavioural Activation for Low Mood and Anxiety in Male Frontline NHS
Workers) study involves the development, delivery and evaluation of an early
intervention that aims to prevent the common mental health challenges (low mood,
anxiety, depression) faced by male frontline NHS workers (Appendix 1).
Frontline National Health Service (NHS) staff are at increased risk of mental health
difficulties. Male frontline workers often do not seek help and might be
more affected than the general population. Behavioural Activation is an effective treatment that can be used as an early intervention to help stop these difficulties getting worse. It is particularly suited for adaptation as a gender-sensitive intervention because of its practical, action-oriented strategies that are consistent with a strengths-based masculinities approach; meaning it reinforces men's sense of autonomy, control and independence.
We will first develop a self-help Behavioural Activation booklet tailored specifically for men who are working on the NHS frontline. As part of this, we will talk to men from different NHS frontline jobs to ensure the booklet is designed in a way that is helpful and appealing to them. In the second part of the study, we will evaluate how effective the intervention is. We will recruit 45 men at risk of low mood who are working on the NHS frontline. We will send the booklet to them, and train BALM coaches to help them use the booklet. Following a topic guide (Appendix 2 & 2a), we will evaluate whether it helped their mood and also interview them (n = 20) and the BALM coaches (n =10) to find out how useful they found it. We will then potentially roll the intervention out across the NHS.REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/SW/0113
Date of REC Opinion
29 Sep 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion