Ontario healthcare workers who sought treatment for their mental health during the first five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: a snapshot of self-referrals across the province
IntroductionHealthcare workers (HCWs) have reported COVID-19 pandemic-related adverse mental health impacts. We examined the demographic profile of HCWs who self-referred for mental health treatment, how referrals changed over time in relation to waves of COVID-19, what the main...
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| Language: | English |
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Public Health Agency of Canada
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada |
| Online Access: | https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-45-no-2-2025/ontario-healthcare-workers-treatment-mental-health-covid-19-pandemic-snapshot-self-referrals-across-province.html |
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| _version_ | 1850199928326848512 |
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| author | Judith M. Laposa Duncan Cameron Kim Corace Heather L. Bullock Lauren Flavelle Natalie Quick Karen Rowa Sara de la Salle Katherin Creighton-Taylor Alice Strachan Stephanie Carter Paul Kurdyak Vanessa Saldanha Randi E. McCabe |
| author_facet | Judith M. Laposa Duncan Cameron Kim Corace Heather L. Bullock Lauren Flavelle Natalie Quick Karen Rowa Sara de la Salle Katherin Creighton-Taylor Alice Strachan Stephanie Carter Paul Kurdyak Vanessa Saldanha Randi E. McCabe |
| author_sort | Judith M. Laposa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
IntroductionHealthcare workers (HCWs) have reported COVID-19 pandemic-related adverse mental health impacts. We examined the demographic profile of HCWs who self-referred for mental health treatment, how referrals changed over time in relation to waves of COVID-19, what the main problem was for which HCWs sought treatment, and how this changed during the pandemic.
MethodsFive major healthcare institutions provided mental health supports to HCWs across Ontario during the pandemic. Data from May 2020 to March 2022 were collected from 2725 HCW self-referrals regarding referral frequency, main presenting mental health problem and demographic information including ethnicity, gender, age, healthcare setting, profession and whether the HCW had a prior mental health diagnosis or had received prior mental health treatment.
ResultsTreatment-seeking HCWs who self-referred predominantly self-identified as female and White. Almost half were nurses, and almost half had received previous mental health treatment; a slightly higher percentage reported a prior mental health diagnosis. Over 60% of the overall sample of HCWs worked in hospitals. The timing of increases and decreases in monthly new referrals roughly aligned with the onset and ending, respectively, of COVID-19 waves. The top five most common presenting problems for treatment-seeking were generalized anxiety/worry symptoms, depression, situational crisis/acute stress response, difficulty with stress/occupational or financial, and posttraumatic stress symptoms.
ConclusionOntario HCWs self-referred to access mental health supports during the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority sought treatment for generalized anxiety/worry or depression symptoms. Results of this study may inform system planning for future pandemics, as well as for HCW wellness programs for continued workplace stress in the postpandemic period. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b0ee017bf7b747e181659a39df15f8b8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2368-738X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Public Health Agency of Canada |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada |
| spelling | doaj-art-b0ee017bf7b747e181659a39df15f8b82025-08-20T02:12:30ZengPublic Health Agency of CanadaHealth Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada2368-738X2025-02-014529810710.24095/hpcdp.45.2.04Ontario healthcare workers who sought treatment for their mental health during the first five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: a snapshot of self-referrals across the provinceJudith M. Laposa0Duncan Cameron1Kim Corace2Heather L. Bullock3Lauren Flavelle4Natalie Quick5Karen Rowa6Sara de la Salle7Katherin Creighton-Taylor8Alice Strachan9Stephanie Carter10Paul Kurdyak11Vanessa Saldanha12Randi E. McCabe13Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaSt. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaRoyal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaWaypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, Ontario, CanadaOntario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Whitby, Ontario, CanadaCentre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaSt. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaRoyal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaOntario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Whitby, Ontario, CanadaOntario Health, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaCentre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaCentre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaCentre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaSt. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada IntroductionHealthcare workers (HCWs) have reported COVID-19 pandemic-related adverse mental health impacts. We examined the demographic profile of HCWs who self-referred for mental health treatment, how referrals changed over time in relation to waves of COVID-19, what the main problem was for which HCWs sought treatment, and how this changed during the pandemic. MethodsFive major healthcare institutions provided mental health supports to HCWs across Ontario during the pandemic. Data from May 2020 to March 2022 were collected from 2725 HCW self-referrals regarding referral frequency, main presenting mental health problem and demographic information including ethnicity, gender, age, healthcare setting, profession and whether the HCW had a prior mental health diagnosis or had received prior mental health treatment. ResultsTreatment-seeking HCWs who self-referred predominantly self-identified as female and White. Almost half were nurses, and almost half had received previous mental health treatment; a slightly higher percentage reported a prior mental health diagnosis. Over 60% of the overall sample of HCWs worked in hospitals. The timing of increases and decreases in monthly new referrals roughly aligned with the onset and ending, respectively, of COVID-19 waves. The top five most common presenting problems for treatment-seeking were generalized anxiety/worry symptoms, depression, situational crisis/acute stress response, difficulty with stress/occupational or financial, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. ConclusionOntario HCWs self-referred to access mental health supports during the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority sought treatment for generalized anxiety/worry or depression symptoms. Results of this study may inform system planning for future pandemics, as well as for HCW wellness programs for continued workplace stress in the postpandemic period.https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-45-no-2-2025/ontario-healthcare-workers-treatment-mental-health-covid-19-pandemic-snapshot-self-referrals-across-province.html |
| spellingShingle | Judith M. Laposa Duncan Cameron Kim Corace Heather L. Bullock Lauren Flavelle Natalie Quick Karen Rowa Sara de la Salle Katherin Creighton-Taylor Alice Strachan Stephanie Carter Paul Kurdyak Vanessa Saldanha Randi E. McCabe Ontario healthcare workers who sought treatment for their mental health during the first five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: a snapshot of self-referrals across the province Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada |
| title | Ontario healthcare workers who sought treatment for their mental health during the first five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: a snapshot of self-referrals across the province |
| title_full | Ontario healthcare workers who sought treatment for their mental health during the first five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: a snapshot of self-referrals across the province |
| title_fullStr | Ontario healthcare workers who sought treatment for their mental health during the first five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: a snapshot of self-referrals across the province |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ontario healthcare workers who sought treatment for their mental health during the first five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: a snapshot of self-referrals across the province |
| title_short | Ontario healthcare workers who sought treatment for their mental health during the first five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: a snapshot of self-referrals across the province |
| title_sort | ontario healthcare workers who sought treatment for their mental health during the first five waves of the covid 19 pandemic a snapshot of self referrals across the province |
| url | https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-45-no-2-2025/ontario-healthcare-workers-treatment-mental-health-covid-19-pandemic-snapshot-self-referrals-across-province.html |
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