Healthcare Personnel Mental Health During COVID-19: Lessons from Employee Occupational Health

Abstract

Background: Employee occupational health (EOH) in healthcare settings during the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenged with the near-impossible task of keeping healthcare personnel (HCP) safe and healthy in the face of real risks. In addition to physical risks, HCP mental health has been negatively impacted by COVID-19; this brought significant role demands on Employee Occupational Health (EOH) providers. Approach: To understand EOH perspectives on COVID-19 mental health impacts on HCP as well as role needs to address these impacts, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 43 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) EOH providers from 29 VHA sites throughout the US between July 2020 and May 2021. Results: 1) EOH found themselves needing to support HCP mental health concerns including home-related anxiety, fear, and family concern; work-related health concerns impacting mental health; COVID-19 bereavement; 2) New EOH roles included facilitating employee assistance and wellness programs, and enacting crisis management protocols, for instance for acute HCP suicidal ideation; 3) EOH mental health concerns revolved around burnout, work volume, and assuming responsibility for the health and welfare of HCP employees. Implications: A best practice for preparedness is to enhance interdisciplinary efforts between EOH and other departments (e.g for access to chaplain for bereavement support).