Improving staff health and wellbeing at SHU through a theoretically underpinned staff wellbeing programme

The challenge

As a large employer in the city we have a personal responsibility to support our staff to lead healthier and more active lives, improving both their physical and mental wellbeing.

The method

SHU Wellness forms part of the university's benefits package for its staff. Through SHU Wellness all staff have access to health and lifestyle sessions and workshops aimed at supporting lifestyle behaviour change. Our methods involve using an evidence-based approach that is underpinned by behaviour change theory and delivered by trained practitioners. This approach allows for high quality monitoring and evaluation to ensure reporting of the impact of the intervention using validated and widely recognised measures.

The impact

The project has reported significant improvements for measures of physiological wellbeing such as blood pressure and cholesterol at 1 year follow-up, but also that this is sustained after 5 years if annual appointments are continued. In addition the project has reported a return on investment of at least £3 for every £1 spent.