Mental Well-Being Of Healthcare Workers During The Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on most nations’ health systems, particularly on the mental well-being of the front-line employees of crisis response. Many healthcare workers are at risk of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, moral injury, acute trauma, and other psychological burdens. The rising challenges with new COVID-19 variants, heavy workload and exposure to various stress factors within the workplace are few reasons for the deterioration of the healthcare professionals’ mental health. In order to address the post-pandemic health matters, it is imperative to protect the mental well-being of the front-line hospital staff.
Prioritizing the mental health of healthcare workers
This crisis has exposed the limitations of the global healthcare systems and reminded the priceless work healthcare workers (HCWs) do on a daily basis. According to a recent study conducted in the UK, 28% of HCWs have reported depression, while 33% have reported severe anxiety during the pandemic (3). As per the study, inadequate training, high work volume, performing resuscitation, and the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) were several contributing factors to anxiety among HCWs. Further, continuous exposure to the virus, isolation, rising death rates, and feelings of insufficient support are also associated with psychological issues among them (5). Moreover, many HCWs are still concerned about the rising number of infections, the potential of infecting family members, and the financial effect of the epidemic. Therefore, just as combatting the epidemic, developing the mental health of HCWs must also be a paramount concern.
It’s no doubt; healthcare professionals are excellent problem solvers and critical thinkers. With these skills, most of them have the practice to cope with stress and anxiety during emergencies. In many countries, HCWs have access to various psychological support systems that allow them to offload their distress. Nevertheless, it is always recommended for health professionals to practice self-care and connect to supportive people whenever they need help.
It has been more nearly two years since we are dealing with a global pandemic. So, various preventive measures have been implemented to improve the mental status of the HCWs across regions. In terms of the efforts, the USA has addressed the basic needs of HCWs, including sleep, rest, nutrition, social connections, and physical activities. Further, they have developed virtual platforms to deliver wellness strategies and have introduced a hotline for spiritual care (4). Moreover, they have recognized the value of supporting HCWs through in-person support options since each HCW brings a valuable skill set. Also, hospitals try to improve cultural safety and the sense of belongingness of HCWs too.
This is exactly what makes healthcare careers challenging but trustworthy. For example, in Canada, the growth rate of nurse practitioners in 2018 was 8.1%, and that was the largest increase of all the nursing designations. Meanwhile, in the same year, there was a 3.6% growth rate of registered practical nurses (2). So, it is expected that the healthcare careers, including nursing, will continue to grow and be top demanding careers over the next decade. According to the Canadian Nurses Association, it is estimated that there will be a shortage of nearly 60,000 nurses in Canada by 2022. With the adverse effects of COVID-19, the demand for nursing and other healthcare careers will continue to rise not just in Canada but in many counties, such as the UK, America, and Australia.
Final thought
HCWs should be appreciated for the valuable work they perform to keep communities healthy. This means we have a responsibility to address their psychological needs and promote their well-being. It is believed that the recognition and appreciation of the healthcare workforce will continue and become long-lasting in the future.