The BRIGHTNESS Study investigates the barriers and facilitators to seeking and accessing professional mental health support among Indian and Filipino health and social care workers in England. Findings will help improve the accessibility and cultural sensitivity of mental health services for these communities.

This study is funded by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Oxford and Thames Valley.  

Black and minority ethnic (BME) individuals in England are more likely to experience mental health conditions but less likely to access professional support. Despite making up a significant proportion of the NHS and social care workforce, little research has explored the mental health experiences of BME health and social care workers, particularly among Indian and Filipino communities, which are the second and third most common nationalities in the NHS workforce.

The BRIGHTNESS study will focus solely on the mental health experiences and views of seeking and accessing professional mental health support among Indian and Filipino health and social care workers in England.  

The study will address four key questions:

1. What barriers and facilitators affect seeking mental health support?
2. What barriers and facilitators affect accessing mental health support?
3. What are the consequences of not being able to access support?
4. How can we improve access to professional mental health services for these groups?

How can we improve access to professional mental health services for these groups?

Findings will provide critical insights into improving mental health services for Indian and Filipino health and social care workers. The study findings can:

- Guide improvements to existing mental health support services 

- Help develop more culturally sensitive mental health care 

- Contribute to better mental health outcomes for Indian and Filipino health and social care workers 

- Inform policies to support the wellbeing of this crucial workforce