Availability, use and impact of workplace mental health supports during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Canadian cohort of healthcare workers

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

The COVID-19 pandemic focused attention on workplace mental health (MH) supports for healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods HCWs in a Canadian cohort reported availability and use of workplace MH supports in October 2020, April 2021 and 2022. At recruitment (April-October 2020) they reported pre-pandemic MH. They completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at each contact. Availability and use of supports were examined by pandemic phase, workplace, work role and, for use, gender, age, pre-pandemic and current MH. Impact was assessed as MH in 2021/2022 following use in 2020. Results Reports of availability, use and HADS scores were obtained from 4400 HCWs working with patients. Access to MH supports increased during the pandemic, with 94% reporting access to some workplace support by 2022. Half the HCWs had at least one clinically significant HADS score during the pandemic. The proportion with high anxiety scores decreased from 29% to 24% as the pandemic progressed: proportions with high depression scores remained close to 10%. Those with a history of pre-pandemic or current mental ill-health formed the majority of HCWs using MH supports. 25% of those with high HADS scores did not use supports, with depressed males least likely to report use. HCWs using an Employment Assistance Program at the 2 nd contact had lower HADS scores at next follow-up but this was not sustained. Conclusion HCWs reported increasing availability and use of MH supports as the pandemic progressed but one in four of those with anxiety and, particularly, depression did not seek support.