The Importance of Supporting Healthcare Workers Mental Health

Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, everyone's mindset about our healthcare workers has changed, and healthcare workers are crucial for our society's well-being.  Due to this, these dedicated professionals are facing intense demands that are affecting their mental health. A survey from 2020 showed that 93% of healthcare workers felt overwhelmed, and 82% reported feeling emotionally and physically exhausted. In 2021, a report on physician burnout revealed that 13% of doctors had considered suicide.

These statistics highlight how long hours, high-stress decision-making, and relentless patient care have negatively impacted healthcare workers. With stress, burnout, and emotional exhaustion at record levels, it's crucial to address mental health in the healthcare industry. Let's explore the unique challenges healthcare workers face and discuss strategies to support their well-being.

Recent Changes in Healthcare

Healthcare workers deal with many challenges that make it hard to prioritize their mental health. They often work long, irregular hours, leading to physical and psychological exhaustion. During their shifts, they must make many high-stress decisions that can involve complex ethical issues. Additionally, healthcare workers, especially those in emergency or acute care units, are constantly exposed to traumatic events, which strains their mental health and makes achieving a healthy work-life balance difficult.

The demand for workers in healthcare is wider than just surgeons or specialist doctors. There needs to be more staff at every level, including nurses, doctors of nursing practice (DNP) graduates, general doctors, therapists, technicians, and even non-medical staff. The decreasing number of available skilled workers combined with the increasing need for healthcare services has forced HR managers to develop long-term, sustainable strategies to handle this issue effectively.

Beyond patient care, healthcare workers also face bureaucratic challenges. Dealing with complex compliance standards and insurance claims can be frustrating, especially when critical procedures are denied coverage. Many healthcare workers feel these administrative tasks diminish their ability to provide direct patient care, especially when staffing shortages increase workloads.

Restriction To Mental Support Systems

Healthcare workers often face obstacles when trying to engage with workplace mental health initiatives. The shift-based nature of hospital work can make consistent communication and support difficult, especially for those working night or weekend shifts. Emotional exhaustion can also leave little energy for participating in wellness programs.

Surprisingly, there is still a stigma around mental health among healthcare professionals. Concerns about patient confidentiality can make them hesitant to seek emotional support. This is made worse by the expectation to prioritize patient care over self-care. Working with mental health resources that create an atmosphere of acceptance and empathy can reduce the risk of burnout, depression, and suicide. While there is no foolproof way of preventing suicide, there are ways to reach nurses who are struggling and reduce the risk they will act on these thoughts.

Top 6 Strategies to Improve Mental Health

1. Leadership Commitment: Encourage clinical and administrative leaders to discuss the importance of mental health in the workplace openly. Providing significant training for all the Team leads and managers to help them support employees who are struggling. This approach can improve the overall well-being of your entire staff. When managers receive training to appreciate and respond to each employee's unique needs, their effectiveness will improve significantly. Some employees may need more support and may not be as resilient as others. But these employees are valuable, and investing in their mental health is essential.
2. Continuing Education: Provide regular mental health programming to help workers recognize signs of mental health concerns in themselves and colleagues. Consider establishing a wellness committee. Appropriate mental health strategies are crucial for any company. Ensure there is zero tolerance for discrimination, bullying, or harassment due to depression. It’s vital to recognize that work-related ill health in such industries is more severe than it appears. Implementing such policies can create a healthier work environment, reducing stress and improving overall well-being.
3. Promote Work-Life Balance: Encourage the use of paid time off and discourage excessive overtime. Designate quiet areas for relaxation during shifts.  Understanding that work-life balance is essential to a healthy work environment means implementing strategic work options. Promoting work-life balance reduces stress and burnout in the workplace.  These factors are crucial for coping with mental health challenges. Long shift hours can contribute to depression, financial stress, and other work-related issues. Having a proper mental health strategy and decreased procrastination at work will also reduce stress and lead to a sound mind and body.
4. Challenge Stigma: Increase awareness of the connection between workplace stress and mental health. Discuss available mental health supports during employee onboarding.
5. Regular Communication: Use internal platforms to share mental health tips and encourage well-being check-ins between supervisors and employees.
6. Crisis Support: Develop clear crisis intervention plans and regularly evaluate the employee assistance program to ensure it offers proactive support and confidential counseling. It’s vital to recognize that work-related ill health in such industries is more severe than it appears. Implementing such policies can create a healthier work environment, reducing stress and improving overall well-being.

Final Thoughts

Healthcare workers' mental health affects the quality of patient care and the overall stability of the healthcare system. Improving their well-being involves creating programs that support workplace mental health and fostering a culture of appreciation and support. By honoring the needs of healthcare workers, we can reduce turnover, improve patient outcomes, and show our gratitude for their lifesaving services every day.