Abstract:
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 selfcare
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.
