BBC Breakfast Feature

Groundbreaking Research

Megan Tjasink, Lead Art Psychotherapist in Cancer Psychological Services at Barts Health NHS Trust, completed her groundbreaking PhD on art therapy for healthcare professional burnout. Her research was published in BMJ Public Health (2025).

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust worked with 129 doctors, nurses and other health professionals from London hospitals to study the effects of six weekly group art therapy sessions. They found that those who took part in the sessions reported much lower emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, and far less stress, anxiety and depression.

Art therapy sessions could cut the risk of burnout by half, the study found — with researchers saying it could be used to help tackle burnout in other professions too.

For the study, described as a first of its kind, half of the participants took part in weekly group art therapy sessions, while the other half served as a control. They were surveyed before and after six sessions of art therapy.

Those who did participate in the art therapy reported feeling around twice as fresh out as those who did not. The trial also found that the benefits lasted at least three months after the therapy ended.

BBC Breakfast Coverage

Megan's work was featured on BBC Breakfast, which filmed an art therapy session she ran for doctors at St Bartholomew's Hospital.

"While they're very good at solving problems in a rational way, they can be less well practised at processing feelings."

"Just due to the nature of their jobs, there are a lot of intense and difficult situations they'll be dealing with every day."

"Using the art therapy method helps people to communicate with colleagues in a very different way and to have feelings that might otherwise be difficult to express."

Ms Tjasink said the sessions were run by a trained psychological professional "so often difficult emotional material comes up, it can be processed safely."

Oncologist Dr Grace Sherpa, who attended several of the sessions at St Bartholomew's Hospital, said: "They definitely helped me."

"Our staffs are so busy, but this give me time to pause, to remember we are human again and to express my feelings through art."

Lasting Impact

The intervention Megan developed is now being implemented within Barts Health Staff Support Psychological Service. Art therapy has since been rolled out across five hospitals in London, with researchers saying it could be used to help tackle burnout in other professions too.

Read the full BBC article →