“My problems aren't severe enough to seek help”: Stress levels and use of mental health supports by Canadian hospital employees during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Due to the unique set of stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers in acute care settings may be facing elevated rates of mental health symptomatology. The purpose of this study was to assess levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of healthcare employees working in hospitals and their use of formal and informal mental health supports. Data was gathered over a three-week period in December 2020 as COVID cases began to rise sharply in Ontario, Canada. Results from an online survey of 650 healthcare employees suggested that overall levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were mild. However, a significant minority of participants reported severe or extremely severe levels of depression (14.4%), anxiety (21.8%), and stress (13.5%). Levels of distress were higher among women, younger participants, those who did not work directly with COVID+ patients, and those who were redeployed. Use of formal mental health supports (e.g., Employee Assistance Plans, teletherapy) was very low (<10%), with the most frequently-reported reason for not using supports being “problems not severe enough to require this service”. Implications are considered for healthcare policy decisions as hospital systems attempt to address the mental health needs of their employees.

Mental health and health-related quality of life among healthcare workers in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

“…Several studies were conducted during the same period as this study. Ménard et al have shown that the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among Canadian HCWs was 14.4%, 21.8% and 13.5%, respectively 45. The lower prevalence in Canada might be explained by the difference in the healthcare systems.…”

“…Ménard et al have shown that the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among Canadian HCWs was 14.4%, 21.8% and 13.5%, respectively. 45 The lower prevalence in Canada might be explained by the difference in the healthcare systems. Different healthcare systems across countries can lead to differences in the prevalence of mental health problems among HCWs.…”

“I Called us the Sacrificial Lambs”: Experiences of Nurses Working in Border City Hospitals During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Further investigations should continue to evaluate how RNs are coping and adjusting to the ongoing pandemic now in its third year and throughout vaccine deployment on both sides of the border. Ongoing analysis of the experiences of other healthcare workers, similar to work done in the first wave by Ménard et al (2022 ) (e.g., physicians, allied health professionals, non-medical hospital staff), to gather quantitative data on stress and coping may also be warranted. Lastly, continued work should be done to evaluate the ongoing effect of the known Canadian ( Bourgeault, 2021 ) and global nursing shortage ( Nebehay, 2021 ) on healthcare in both countries .…”

Psychological Impact in Healthcare Workers During Emergencies: The Italian Experience With COVID-19 First Wave

“…In contrast, a group approach would have been more adequate as it allows sharing needs and difficulties together. However, HCWs also reported to believe their problems were not severe enough to require these services and to be able to manage them on their own, despite the high psychological distress reported ( 39 – 42 ).…”