Prioritizing the Mental Health and Well-Being of Healthcare Workers

An Urgent Global Public Health Priority

Bibliographic Data

ID22074167
AuthorsLene E Søvold (0000-0003-3381-5110, corresponding author), John A Naslund (0000-0001-6777-0104, Harvard University), Antonis A Kousoulis (0000-0002-8763-3358, Mental Health Foundation), Shekhar Saxena (0000-0001-9385-0212, Harvard University), M Walid Qoronfleh (0000-0001-6757-1922), Christoffel Grobler (0000-0001-6571-0079, University of Pretoria), Lars Münter (Danish Medical Association)
Year2021
Volume9
Pages679397-679397
Publication date2021-05-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2021.679397
PMID34026720
OpenAlexW3157680454
LanguageEN
Citations received143
References cited93

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on health systems in most countries, and in particular, on the mental health and well-being of health workers on the frontlines of pandemic response efforts. The purpose of this article is to provide an evidence-based overview of the adverse mental health impacts on healthcare workers during times of crisis and other challenging working conditions and to highlight the importance of prioritizing and protecting the mental health and well-being of the healthcare workforce, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. First, we provide a broad overview of the elevated risk of stress, burnout, moral injury, depression, trauma, and other mental health challenges among healthcare workers. Second, we consider how public health emergencies exacerbate these concerns, as reflected in emerging research on the negative mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers. Further, we consider potential approaches for overcoming these threats to mental health by exploring the value of practicing self-care strategies, and implementing evidence based interventions and organizational measures to help protect and support the mental health and well-being of the healthcare workforce. Lastly, we highlight systemic changes to empower healthcare workers and protect their mental health and well-being in the long run, and propose policy recommendations to guide healthcare leaders and health systems in this endeavor. This paper acknowledges the stressors, burdens, and psychological needs of the healthcare workforce across health systems and disciplines, and calls for renewed efforts to mitigate these challenges among those working on the frontlines during public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic

Burnout · Business · Health care · Mental health · Pandemic · Political science · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Public health · Public relations · Stressor · Workforce · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Medicine · Nursing · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Psychology · Health Policy