CNN
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Researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued a warning about a mental health crisis among health workers nationwide.
According to a new report from the agency, using nationwide survey data from 2018 to 2022, nearly half of health workers reported feeling burned out in 2022, which is an increase from less than a third four years earlier. The report also found that health workers experienced a doubling in reports of workplace harassment.
The report, released on Tuesday, highlights that health workers face worse mental health outcomes compared to employees in other industries.
These findings come after the largest healthcare worker strike in US history, where 75,000 unionized employees of Kaiser Permanente went on strike in five states and Washington DC due to burnout and chronic staffing shortages.
Dr. Debra Houry, the CDC’s chief medical officer, stated, “While health workers typically care diligently for others in their time of need, it is now our nation’s health workers who are suffering, and we must take action.”
Even prior to the pandemic, health workers already faced demanding jobs, including long hours, unpredictable schedules, exposure to infectious diseases, and challenging interactions with patients and their families, added Houry.
Previous research has indicated that healthcare workers, especially nurses, health support workers, and health technicians, have a higher risk of suicide compared to those outside the medical field.
Houry shared her personal experiences, saying, “Caring for sick people can be intensely stressful and emotional. I remember tough cases where I had to deliver bad news or could not save a life. After such shifts, I had to put on a good face and take care of my own family, often neglecting my own wellness.”
Houry mentioned that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated workplace challenges, with healthcare providers facing high patient volumes, long hours, and supply shortages. These stresses contributed to an increase in mental health complications, including suicidal thoughts and substance abuse issues, mirroring trends in the general adult population.
The study revealed a rise in poor mental health days among health care workers between 2018 and 2022. In the survey, 44% of health workers expressed a desire to find a new job, compared to 33% in 2018. Meanwhile, other essential workers’ intentions to find a new job decreased during the same period.
Additionally, incidents of harassment, including violent threats, bullying, and verbal abuse from patients and coworkers, increased from 6% to 13% among health care workers during the study period.
The report highlighted the significant impact of harassment on health workers’ mental health. Those who experienced harassment were five times more likely to report anxiety, three times more likely to report depression, and almost six times more likely to report burnout compared to those who did not experience harassment.
For example, 85% of health workers who faced harassment reported feeling anxiety, compared to 53% of those who did not. Additionally, 60% of harassment victims reported experiencing depression, nearly double the number of those who did not experience harassment.
However, the report emphasized that these consequences can be prevented through improved workplace policies and practices.
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