Workplace Mental Health, Wellbeing and Productivity Pilots
INWORK workplace mental health, wellbeing and productivity pilots.
New pilot offers mental health and wellbeing support to employees and working individuals in the Midlands
As well as providing support to those who take part, the purpose of this research is to measure what impact taking part has on participants’ wellbeing, and determine the potential for a wider rollout of the services being trialled. The research will measure the impact of taking part on participants’ wellbeing, and the feasibility of a wider roll-out. The research is being led by the University of Warwick, in partnership with the University of Birmingham and Mind, the mental health charity, and is funded by the Midlands Engine.
The research team would like to encourage as many people as possible to consider expressing interest in taking part.
What are the aims of the pilot?
The research will trial three new ways to support wellbeing and good mental health in the workplace through helping employees and working individuals to remain happy, healthy and engaged. We also hope to see benefits for employers and the wider community in reduced time off work and improved productivity. A key part of the project is to understand how the trial services could be rolled out more widely, and how they may need adapting based on feedback from the pilot phase.
The three trials available are:
*All trials now closed*
REST
*Trial now full*
Online practical skills training in psychology and emotions focused on reducing stress and improving wellbeing. REST aims to improve recognition of emotions and their triggers, and develop resilience and healthy coping techniques to deal with low mood and stress.
No capacity limit.
8 weeks. 1 hour per week. This training is self-guided.
SLEEP
*Trial now full*
Online skills and psychology training accompanied by therapist appointments, focused on improving sleep quality and reducing insomnia and stress. SLEEP is structured around cognitive behavioural therapy for sleep (CBTi).
156 participants.
8 weeks. 1 hour per week, and 4 therapist appointments.
MENTOR
*Trial now full*
A mental health employment liaison worker will provide tailored support to employees dealing with a mental health condition and their managers to enable the employee to remain happy, healthy and engaged at work.
365 participants
12 weeks, including 10 liaison worker sessions.
Who can take part in the pilot?
Who can take part in the pilots?
The pilot is aimed at employees and working individuals in the Midlands, whose employers may or may not have signed up to participate. If your employer advertised the pilot to you then they’re signed up and they will support you in taking part in the trials. If you are self-employed, a freelancer or your employer did not advertise the trials to you, you can still take part, however, in this case, your employer will not be obliged to support your participation.
How can I take part?
If you decide to take part, you can express your interest now.
When you express your interest, we will ask you for your name and e-mail address, and the postcode of your usual working location (ignoring any new working arrangements resulting from the pandemic). Sign up to take part.
Screening and eligibility
Screening involves completing several questionnaires, taking around 15 minutes in total. These are designed to see if you are currently experiencing any symptoms of insomnia, depression or anxiety. We will also ask if you are currently receiving treatment for a mental health condition. Your responses to the screening questions will let us determine if our trial services will be suitable for you.
The SLEEP and REST trials do not require manager input and participation will be anonymous. However, please be aware that depending on your work environment, it may be clear that you're taking part in a study when you're completing online training and appointments during working hours for example.
If your screening responses show that our trial services are not suitable for you, we will provide you with links to other resources that you may find useful to look after your mental health.
Delivery of the trials to the first participants began on 5 July 2021, and we will continue to enrol new participants throughout the summer.
Will I get paid for taking part?
As a thank you for taking part, Amazon gift vouchers will be offered to participants at several points during the trials. The arrangement is different for each trial, please see the Participant Information Leaflet for further details.
(Please note: We will never ask for your bank details. Vouchers will only be issued by email. If you have not received your voucher within 30 days, please contact the research team at wmg-MHPP@warwick.ac.uk).
Supporting documents
Access supporting documents and other information about the research project.