Katie Webb, Research Assistant, Health Sciences
Katie Webb is a Research Assistant in the Mental Health and Addictions Research Group (MHARG) in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York.
She joined MHARG in March 2022 after completing a BSc and MSc in Psychology.
email: katie.webb@york.ac.uk
Our 60-second interview with Katie:
Could you please tell us what work you do in the field of mental health?
I am a Research Assistant for the BALM project (Behavioural Activation for Low mood and anxiety in male NHS frontline workers) within MHARG. I support the development, delivery, and evaluation of a gender-sensitive Behavioural Activation programme as an early intervention for low mood and anxiety in male NHS workers.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring in this work?
Men are often reluctant to acknowledge or seek help for mental health problems, so being a part of research that helps combat these issues for this stigmatised group is extremely rewarding.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of this work?
I feel that a challenging aspect of this research has been understanding the strains NHS workers are under and how this impacts the study. As part of the research, we recruit both participants and support workers (‘coaches’) that are NHS workers. We have found that the work demands of NHS staff can affect engagement and time they’re able to commit to BALM.
What impact do you hope your work is having - or can potentially have?
As there are currently no mental health interventions available for this population, the BALM project will be the first to tailor a Behavioural Activation approach for men working in the frontline of healthcare. We hope to prevent the development of diagnosable mental health conditions for these individuals.
Could you share with us one piece of advice that you follow for your own mental health?
I believe that making the time to do things that you enjoy and are important to you is vital to keeping you happy and healthy.