Mental HEaLth Promotion in healthCARE workforce (HELP-CARE): A realist and economic evaluation of an inter-sectoral and multi-level intervention in Denmark.

Supporting the mental wellbeing (MWB) of healthcare workers (HCWs) is a global public health priority with far-reaching societal and economic consequences. HCWs face multiple occupational risks that can significantly affect their mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated strained working conditions in hospitals, leading to increased rates of stress, depression, and burnout, particularly among women and nurses. This has resulted in a concerning shortage of HCWs, triggering a negative cycle of deteriorating working conditions, reduced job satisfaction, compromised healthcare quality, and patient safety. To address this critical issue, an intersectoral action using innovative, multi-level interventions promoting MWB is necessary. However, the lack of robust evidence of cost-effectiveness for preventive approaches in the healthcare sector hampers informed health policies and sustainable actions. Three major hindrances to progress are identified: the absence of positive mental health indicators (MWB) as the primary intervention outcome, the need for a multifaceted approach considering individual and organizational factors, and the lack of health economic evaluations. The HELP-CARE project emerges as a solution, aiming to provide a realist and economic evaluation of a multi-level MWB-based intervention in the public healthcare sector launched by the technological company HOWDY.care in Denmark. The study will use Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Cost-Benefit Analysis on large longitudinal data of Danish HCWs to understand how this type of intervention works and its economic impact. HELP-CARE entails a strong inter-sectoral collaboration (academic-public-private-NGO) whose findings will pave the way for more effective interventions to enhance HCWs' MWB.The involvement of leading experts in the field from the Department of Psychology at University of Copenhagen offers valuable resources and infrastructures for the success of this project and my career.