Addressing the Mental Health and Productivity of Young Workers using Contextual Behavioural Science

Mental health problems affect one in six workers each year and are the leading cause of sickness absence (Deloitte, 2020). Offering mental health support in the workplace can be an effective public health intervention to help remediate common issues (e.g. anxiety, depression) and ultimately improve productivity at work (Prudenzi et al., 2021). A novel approach that has been suggested to promote employees' mental and physical health is CBS (Bond & Bunce, 2003).

This model and intervention aim to promote mental health of employees by helping them to be more aware, open and active. This is achieved through the process of 'psychological flexibility'. My PhD thesis aimed to test the CBS psychological model and therapy (ACT) to improve mental health and reduce work-related stress of healthcare employees.

My doctoral thesis addressed several gaps in the literature and produced four studies. In combination, the findings from my thesis found that the CBS model, ACT intervention, and the hypothesised resilience skills (psychological flexibility and self-compassion) were beneficial to improving mental health in healthcare employees.

The landscape of workplace mental health has dramatically changed since the start of my PhD. Increased technology, the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, technological advancements and financial stressors have led to poorer mental health in young people with an increased risk of unemployment (Bartelink et al., 2020, for a review). Highly relevant UK funders (e.g.

Wellcome Trust), recent reports (e.g. Deloitte Generation Z and Millennials', 2021), policymakers (e.g. EUniWell) and the latest Mental Health at Work guideline (NICE) have all launched a call for evidence-based interventions that improve mental health of young people at work.

With the help of multiple experienced academics, partners, young people, and stakeholders I would like to further develop, advance and implement my work for helping young people's mental health.

This fellowship has three objectives: 1) to further increase the impact and dissemination of my research and reach international visibility; 2) to develop my abilities to become an independent academic, and; 3) to expand and develop the work conducted during my PhD to help remediate common youth mental health problems (e.g. anxiety, depression) and likely improve their engagement at work.

With this fellowship I aim to:

Collaborate with: a) academics of the University of Birmingham (Dubai) and the UAE FAHR stakeholders, b) academics and partners of the MHPP project, c) senior youth mental health experts and the YAB at the IMH University of Birmingham (Edgbaston campus);

Disseminate: deliver a stakeholder webinar, attend an International Occupational Psychology Conference and a CBS Conference, publish an article in a public news outlet, deliver a Train-the-Trainer training programme and an academic seminar (University of Birmingham, Dubai); Supervise: supervising master's level student projects and a PhD student;

Lead: form and lead a new IMH research sub-theme group entitled 'Employment and Mental Health' in the Mood Disorders Lab group (Prof Marwaha);

Adapt the intervention: adapt the CBS intervention used in my PhD to help young people improve their mental health and productivity at work; Develop a grant proposal: improve my writing skills and develop the New Investigator Grant application.

This fellowship will aim to empower me and consolidate the relevant skillset for my future career as a scientist-practitioner: designing, administering and evaluating interventions for improving mental health in the workplace. This fellowship would enhance the range of academic employment opportunities available to me in this field. That said, my drive to undertake this fellowship is not solely fuelled by the opportunities that will emerge upon completion but also by the prospect of engaging in the process of pursuing a research avenue that I care about deeply.