Evaluating the mental health and well-being of Canadian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare systems have been under extreme levels of stress due to increases in patient distress and patient deaths. While additional research and public health funding initiatives can alleviate these systemic issues, it is also important to consider the ongoing mental health and well-being of professionals working in healthcare. By surveying healthcare workers working in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic, we found that there was an elevated level of depressive symptomatology in that population. We also found that when employees were provided with accurate and timely information about the pandemic, and additional protective measures in the workplace, they were less likely to report negative effects on well-being. We recommend that healthcare employers take these steps, as well as providing targeted mental health interventions, in order to maintain the mental health of their employees, which in turn will provide better healthcare at the population level.

Figure 1.

Number of participants with each level of depression based on the PHQ-9. The PHQ-9 is a self-administered test for initial assessment of depression and need for follow-up in patients. Although it is not a stand-alone diagnostic tool, it has a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 88% for major depression. Green bars indicate a low level of concern (PHQ-9 scores from 0-4). Yellow bars indicate recommendation of follow-up with mental health professional (PHQ-9 scores from 5-14). Red bars indicate the need for immediate treatment (PHQ-9 scores ≥15; see Kroenke et al.). PHQ-9 indicates Patient Health Questionnaire-9.