Distress, Wellbeing and Mindfulness Amongst Mental Health Professionals

Research has indicated that levels of distress and wellbeing amongst qualified and trainee mental health professions are poor. This thesis sought to explore the factors that may contribute to distress as well as increase understanding about how mental health professionals can be supported. A meta-analysis was conducted on 15 studies to assess the effect of mindfulness-based interventions on reducing distress and improving wellbeing and mindfulness amongst mental health professionals. Further, traditional mindfulness-based interventions were compared with adapted versions with regards to changes in distress and mindfulness. The relationship between variation in number of intervention hours and distress and mindfulness was also assessed. Mindfulness-based interventions had positive effects on all outcomes. Intervention type (traditional or adapted) and variation in intervention hours did not relate to distress or mindfulness. Methodological limitations are considered. Recommendations for clinical practice and future research are considered. The empirical chapter reports the findings from a longitudinal within-subjects study with 259 trainee therapists (‘Trainee Clinical Psychologists’, ‘High Intensity, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ (IAPT) trainees and ‘Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners’ trainees) in the United Kingdom. The study assessed whether attachment orientation (anxious and avoidant), coping approach (suppressive and reactive) and/or mindfulness related to distress over time. Additionally, the study examined whether coping approach and/or mindfulness mediated the relationship between attachment orientation and distress over time. All variables were related to each other. In the mediation analysis, only reactive coping mediated the attachment-distress relationship. Limitations of the research are discussed. Further, clinical implications are explored along with future research recommendations