POETRY FOR WELLBEING WORKSHOP

The Need: Stress in the UK Healthcare Sector

The urgency for targeted wellbeing interventions is clear:

• 44% of NHS staff reported feeling unwell due to work-related stress (NHS Staff Survey, 2023)
• Over 50% of doctors reported burnout symptoms (British Medical Association, 2022–2024)
• 1 in 3 nurses are considering leaving the profession due to stress (Royal College of Nursing, 2023)
• The World Health Organization recognises burnout as an occupational phenomenon linked to chronic workplace stress

Conclusion: There is a clear and urgent need for innovative, human-centred wellbeing solutions.

Evidence-Based Benefits

Poetry and expressive writing are increasingly recognised as powerful tools for mental wellbeing:

• Expressive writing reduces stress and improves emotional regulation (Pennebaker & Chung, 2011)
• Creative writing interventions reduce anxiety and depression symptoms (Journal of Affective Disorders, 2018)
• Arts-based interventions reduce burnout in healthcare workers (BMJ Open, 2020)
• Reflective writing improves empathy and reduces emotional exhaustion (Academic Medicine, 2016)