Exploring the effects of written emotional disclosures (WED) on healthcare workers' (HCWs) mental health symptoms in the UK: A feasibility study

Abstract

Background

Written emotional disclosure (WED) is a creative writing intervention that allows a person to confront emotions and traumatic experiences, which has been shown to produce well-being benefits and could be used to support healthcare workers (HCWs). Written emotional disclosure is usually delivered as a written intervention, and despite some research exploring the effects of other forms of typing interventions using emotional expression, expressive writing and structured writing, the efficacy of WED as a typing-based intervention is yet to be examined.

Aim

The aim of this mixed method feasibility study was to address whether a writing or typing WED intervention would reduce HCW's mental health symptoms. Additionally, to address whether the WED intervention groups were acceptable to HCW as a supportive intervention.

Findings

Fifty-five participants (seven males) aged between 22 and 60 took part in this study. The results demonstrate that both the writing and typing WED intervention groups significantly reduce mental health symptoms. Most participants (96.4%) deemed both the WED intervention groups acceptable.

Conclusion

Therefore, WED interventions could potentially be integrated into existing counselling and therapeutic interventions to support HCW and could be implemented within the existing debrief and clinical supervision frameworks.