TY - JOUR
T1 - Videoconference-based Creativity Workshops for mental health staff during the COVID-19 pandemic
AU - Riches, Simon
AU - Yusuf-George, Meirion
AU - Steer, Natalie
AU - Fialho, Carolina
AU - Vasile, Ruxandra
AU - Nicholson, Sarah
AU - Waheed, Saira
AU - Fisher, Helen
AU - Zhang, Shuo
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by a ‘Time to Smile’ grant from the Maudsley Charity that was awarded to Simon Riches and Shuo Zhang. Helen L. Fisher is supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Centre for Society and Mental Health at King’s College London [ES/S012567/1]. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the ESRC, King’s College London, or the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2024/5/17
Y1 - 2024/5/17
N2 - Background: COVID-19 presented significant challenges to psychiatric staff, while social distancing and remote working necessitated digital communications. NHS England prioritised staff wellbeing. Arts-based creativity interventions appear to improve psychological wellbeing, so this study evaluated online Creativity Workshops as a staff support response for COVID-19-related stress. Methods: Participants were staff from a South London NHS psychiatric hospital. Group Creativity Workshops were facilitated via Microsoft Teams. Acceptability data on pre- and post-workshop mood and attitudes were self-reported by participants. Feasibility data were gathered from adherence to number of workshop components delivered. Results: Eight workshops were delivered in May-September 2020 (N=55) with high adherence to components. Participants reported significantly increased positive mood and attitudes towards themselves and others; and decreased stress and anxiety. Conclusions: Online Creativity Workshops appear feasible and acceptable in reducing stress in psychiatric staff. Integrating a programme of Creativity Workshops within healthcare staff support may benefit staff wellbeing.
AB - Background: COVID-19 presented significant challenges to psychiatric staff, while social distancing and remote working necessitated digital communications. NHS England prioritised staff wellbeing. Arts-based creativity interventions appear to improve psychological wellbeing, so this study evaluated online Creativity Workshops as a staff support response for COVID-19-related stress. Methods: Participants were staff from a South London NHS psychiatric hospital. Group Creativity Workshops were facilitated via Microsoft Teams. Acceptability data on pre- and post-workshop mood and attitudes were self-reported by participants. Feasibility data were gathered from adherence to number of workshop components delivered. Results: Eight workshops were delivered in May-September 2020 (N=55) with high adherence to components. Participants reported significantly increased positive mood and attitudes towards themselves and others; and decreased stress and anxiety. Conclusions: Online Creativity Workshops appear feasible and acceptable in reducing stress in psychiatric staff. Integrating a programme of Creativity Workshops within healthcare staff support may benefit staff wellbeing.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150658851&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17533015.2023.2184402
DO - 10.1080/17533015.2023.2184402
M3 - Article
SN - 1753-3015
VL - 16
SP - 134
EP - 146
JO - Arts & Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice
JF - Arts & Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice
IS - 2
ER -