A recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is shedding light on a mental health crisis faced by healthcare workers across the country. The report, which analyzed nationwide survey data from 2018 to 2022, revealed a significant increase in burnout and harassment experienced by healthcare professionals.
Key findings of the report include:
Rising Burnout: In 2022, nearly half of healthcare workers reported feeling burned out, a substantial increase from just under a third in 2018.
Increased Harassment: Reports of healthcare workers facing harassment at their workplaces more than doubled over the study period.
Worse Mental Health Outcomes: Healthcare workers exhibited worse mental health outcomes compared to employees in other industries.
The report’s release comes on the heels of the largest healthcare worker strike in US history. Approximately 75,000 unionized employees of Kaiser Permanente participated in the strike, citing feelings of burnout and chronic staffing shortages as reasons for their protest.
Dr. Debra Houry, the CDC’s chief medical officer, emphasized that healthcare workers have demanding jobs, which often involve long hours, unpredictable schedules, exposure to infectious diseases, and challenging interactions with patients and their families. Previous research has shown that healthcare workers, especially nurses, health support workers, and health technicians, face an increased risk of suicide compared to those outside the medical field.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated workplace challenges for healthcare providers, with surges in patients, extended working hours, and supply shortages contributing to a rise in mental health issues, suicidal thoughts, and substance abuse problems. The study also found that healthcare workers reported an increase in poor mental health days between 2018 and 2022. Furthermore, 44% of healthcare workers expressed a desire to find a new job in the 2022 survey, compared to 33% in 2018.
The report highlights the negative impact of harassment on healthcare workers’ mental health. Those who experienced harassment were more likely to report anxiety, depression, and burnout. The consequences of harassment are preventable through improved workplace policies and practices, the report states.
The CDC calls on employers to take immediate preventive actions, emphasizing the importance of trust in management, adequate time to complete work, and supervisor support as factors reducing burnout. Encouraging cross-level employee participation in decision-making and addressing harassment reports are also recommended.
The CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health plans to launch a national campaign this fall to assist hospital leaders in addressing healthcare workers’ well-being challenges, in an effort to raise awareness and promote better mental health support within the healthcare sector.
Dr. Casey Chosewood, director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Office for Total Worker Health, stressed the need for immediate action, stating that healthcare workers’ well-being is a critical factor in ensuring the health and safety of patients and communities.
