May is Mental Health Month. Mental Health is an important part of overall health. Mental health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is a state of mental well-being in which people cope well with many stresses of life, can realize their own potential, function productively and fruitfully, and contribute to their communities. Healthcare workers are not immune from mental health crisis. If fact, since COVID-19, we’ve learned that healthcare workers face disproportionate stress and burnout, putting them at greater risk of anxiety, depression, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, or suicide. Even before COVID-19, doctors and nurses were more likely than the general population to die by suicide.
Mental Health issues for healthcare workers are exacerbated by things like vicarious trauma and global health worker shortages. Healthcare workers experience barriers to treatment including a lack of resources and trained health workers along with facing the social stigma and shame surrounding mental health. They often care for others but do not care for themselves.
Education and resources that equip health care workers with tools needed to manage their own mental health. The Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) is making some of its resources available for free or reduced cost in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.
- Free Article: Depression vs. Grief
- Free Book Chapter: Cherish the “Thank You” Being an ICU Nurse During the Pandemic
- Complimentary On-Demand Webinar: Is it Depression or is it Grief?
Want more information on promoting Mental Health Month? Click here for more resources.
