Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
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COVID-19 and healthcare worker mental well-being: comparative case studies on interventions in six countries

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-07-31, 10:55 authored by John Paul ByrneJohn Paul Byrne, Niamh HumphriesNiamh Humphries, Robert McMurray, Cris Scotter

Healthcare worker (HCW) mental well-being has become a global public health priority as health systems seek to strengthen their resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysing data from the Health System Response Monitor, we present six case studies (Denmark, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Romania, and the United Kingdom) as a comparative review of policy interventions supporting HCW mental health during the pandemic. The results illustrate a wide range of interventions. While Denmark and the United Kingdom built on pre-existing structures to support HCW mental wellbeing during the pandemic, the other countries required new interventions. Across all cases, there was a reliance on self-care resources, online training tools, and remote professional support. Based on our analysis, we develop four policy recommendations for the future of HCW mental health supports. First, HCW mental health should be seen as a core facet of health workforce capacity. Second, effective mental health supports requires an integrated psychosocial approach that acknowledges the importance of harm prevention strategies and organisational resources (psychological first aid) alongside targeted professional interventions. Third, personal, professional and practical obstacles to take-up of mental health supports should be addressed. Fourth, any specific support or intervention targeting HCW's mental health is connected to, and dependent on, wider structural and employment factors (e.g. system resourcing and organisation) that determine the working conditions of HCWs.

Funding

WHO Europe

History

Comments

The original article is available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/

Published Citation

Byrne JP, Humphries N, McMurray R, Scotter C. COVID-19 and healthcare worker mental well-being: comparative case studies on interventions in six countries. Health Policy. 2023;135:104863.

Publication Date

26 June 2023

PubMed ID

37399678

Department/Unit

  • Graduate School of Healthcare Management

Research Area

  • Health Professions Education
  • Population Health and Health Services

Publisher

Elsevier BV

Version

  • Published Version (Version of Record)