WeCare – Mental healthcare for health professionals

Abstract

Abstract Issue/Problem Health professionals face physical and mental stressors (risk factors) due to challenging working conditions. Description of the Problem Despite high levels of health literacy among healthcare workers, maintaining healthy habits is challenging due to variable shifts, including nights, high workloads, and intense emotional and mental demands. Adopting a healthier lifestyle requires personal changes that can be difficult to implement, particularly in nursing and caregiving. This is critical, as retaining and attracting new staff in these fields is essential for the healthcare sector. Results/Effects/Changes To address these challenges, it’s crucial to boost intrinsic motivation and provide healthcare workers with practical tools to support their well-being and encourage them to remain in the sector. The WeCare project offers a mobile app designed as a ‘pocket coach,’ accessible at any time. Healthcare professionals can use the app to assess their current mental well-being through self-evaluation. With built-in assessments and predefined thresholds, the app tracks stress levels and quality of life. Depending on the outcomes, users are automatically guided to appropriate information, gamified activities, and exercises tailored to their specific needs. The project, running from 2022 to 2024, is co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme. Lessons The app is beta-tested during 2024 in five countries: Germany, Austria, Serbia, Poland, and Italy, with local language support. The test group will consist of healthcare professionals and related professions. The results, including user engagement and motivational factors are analyzed. As the project concludes in autumn, comprehensive recommendations and lessons learned will be compiled and presented at the European Public Health (EPH) Conference. This will also include sharing the app and its solution with the broader healthcare community. Key messages • The WeCare app supports healthcare workers’ mental health with a mobile “pocket coach” that provides personalized exercises. Through gamification, it promotes healthy habits and boosts job motivation. • It is critical to support healthcare workers, as retaining and attracting new persons is essential for the healthcare sector.