Introduction
The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic caused massive social upheaval across all sectors. In particular, medical health professionals report feelings of exhaustion, insomnia, anxiety, and even trauma following the death and suffering of patients occasioned by the viral disease (Feinstein et al., 2020). Moreover, the unpredictability of the disease with its constantly and rapidly changing response schemes places healthcare workers under occupational stress and anxiety.
Feinstein et al. (2020) add that healthcare workers fall into drug abuse, depression, and suicidal ideation as coping strategies in the face of severe mental and emotional strain. As such, the problem statement is: How can the effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of healthcare workers be alleviated? It is paramount that workers, who are called upon to provide strenuous services, are well catered for in terms of their mental health.
The mental health of healthcare workers can be significantly boosted if they are given appropriate support facilities. Greenberg (2020) notes that healthcare workers can benefit from occupational therapy in the form of “return to normal work” debriefs and wholesome counseling that encourages them to share their emotional and mental apprehensions. Spoorthy et al. (2020) note that healthcare workers can benefit from self-care regimes that incorporate practices such as yoga and breathing exercises to enhance their mindfulness and awareness.
Such regimes will enable individuals to deal with occupational challenges and maintain a proper work-life balance in the face of very demanding occupational roles (Walton et al., 2020). Overall, well-formulated mental health interventions can significantly reduce the stigma that comes with battling mental health issues. Healthcare workers should be urgently safeguarded from the pitfalls of mental health to ensure their sustained mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health, particularly among healthcare workers. To help healthcare professionals cope with the psychological fallout of the virus, legislators have approved the Families First Coronavirus Response (FFCR) Act of 2020 (Goldman et al., 2020). This policy background will examine how COVID-19 has affected mental health and how effectively the FFCR Act and other congressional legislation have improved mental health outcomes for healthcare personnel on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response.
Because of the COVID-19 epidemic and its effects on healthcare providers, mental health policy has taken on more significance. Compared to the general population, healthcare professionals have seen disproportionately high rates of infection and illness from this virus (Vieira et al., 2020). Additionally, healthcare workers are predisposed to occupational pressure stemming from a variety of stressors such as burnout, anxiety, and vicarious traumatization (Søvold et al., 2021). As a result, more healthcare providers now need access to mental health support interventions.
Legislators proposed the FFCR Act in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide healthcare workers with greater financial security, given the heightened risk the disease poses to their jobs. In addition, the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families (TRWF) Act provides healthcare workers with increased occupational resources to mitigate the individual threat posed by COVID-19. It includes access to mental health care and improved workplace safety measures, such as PPE. The Act’s goal is to ensure that healthcare employees are safe and healthy in the workplace, and by extension, protected against psychological distress.
Healthcare providers have felt the repercussions of the COVID-19 epidemic in many ways, both in terms of their physical and emotional well-being. From a physical perspective, long work hours, higher stress levels, and insufficient rest all contribute to increased rates of fatigue and burnout among the healthcare workforce (Vieira et al., 2020). Due to frequent patient interaction, healthcare professionals are at a higher risk of contracting the virus (Vieira et al., 2020).
Long-term physical health concerns, such as chronic respiratory disorders and cardiovascular ailments, have become more likely. For this reason, healthcare workers are reluctant to report to work, fearing they may contract the virus and transmit it to family members (Søvold, 2021). This has inadvertently led to healthcare workers feeling anxious, depressed, and even traumatized, which can lead to severe mental health complications if not checked.
The FFCR Act’s approach to mental health policy aims to address these issues. The goal of the law is to ensure that medical professionals receive paid sick leave if they contract COVID-19 while performing their job duties (Goldman, 2020). This is especially important for healthcare workers on the frontlines since it alleviates their anxiety if they come down with the virus. In addition to the FFCR Act, Congress also passed the TRWF Act (Szymendera, 2020).
The Act included the requirement that each state and the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Act (OSHA) adopt an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) framework for COVID-19. The ETS ensures that healthcare workers are provided with adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) appropriate for their safety as they treat COVID-19 patients. Notably, healthcare personnel who are well-equipped to perform their jobs are likely to have a more positive mindset as they undertake their tasks.
Landscape
Mental Health Policy is a vital component of healthcare policy that has far-reaching impacts on many stakeholders, including patients, healthcare providers, health insurance companies, and government entities (Spoorthy et al., 2020). The policy’s success requires collaboration, coordination, and consideration of the perspectives of key players in policymaking. This landscape analysis will highlight the key stakeholders involved, their positions, and the various factors that influence the development and implementation of the Mental Health Policy.
The key stakeholders in the Mental Health Policy include patients, healthcare providers, health insurance providers, government agencies, and advocacy groups. According to Teitelbaum and Wilensky (2017), patients are at the forefront of the policy, as they are direct beneficiaries of the policy’s outcomes. Patients with mental health conditions are entitled to quality care that meets their needs, and the Mental Health Policy is meant to provide them with access to appropriate care (Sindhu & Adashi, 2022). They are also entitled to receive care covered by their insurance and protected by privacy laws.
Healthcare providers are responsible for delivering care to patients with mental health conditions. They must provide care consistent with the standards of quality and safety and comply with the regulations and guidelines established by the policy (Geoffroy et al., 2020). They must also collaborate with other healthcare providers to ensure that patients receive appropriate care, regardless of their insurance status or location.
Additionally, health insurance providers play a crucial role in Mental Health Policy by providing coverage for mental health services. They are responsible for negotiating with healthcare providers to determine the cost of care and which services will be covered by insurance (Teitelbaum & Wilensky, 2017). They must also ensure that the policies they offer provide adequate coverage for mental health services and are accessible to patients.
Government agencies are responsible for enforcing the Mental Health Policy and ensuring its effective implementation. They must ensure that healthcare providers and insurance providers comply with the policy and that patients receive the necessary care (Teitelbaum & Wilensky, 2017). They must also provide resources and support to help patients access care, including funding for research and training programs. Further, advocacy groups are critical in advocating for patients’ rights with mental health conditions. They must ensure that patients have access to care and that their rights are protected.
Public attitudes toward mental health are also significant in the Mental Health Policy. The policy must be supported by a culture that recognizes the importance of mental health and is committed to ensuring that patients receive appropriate care (Sindhu & Adashi, 2022). This includes public education campaigns, media coverage, and public policy initiatives that raise awareness about mental health conditions and promote understanding and acceptance of mental illness.
The political and economic conditions greatly impact Mental Health Policy. Governments play a crucial role in advancing the policy by committing to improving access to mental health services and eliminating the negative stigma surrounding mental illness. A thriving and stable economy is also essential to ensure sufficient resources and support for implementing the policy. This includes providing funding for research and training programs, as well as for the development of new treatments and technologies. A supportive political climate and a robust economy provide a solid foundation for a successful Mental Health Policy.
Options
Increasing Public Health
Public education about COVID-19 and its impact on mental health is crucial in raising awareness and highlighting existing issues. Gruber et al. (2021) note that a lack of education in this area is often the cause of mental health issues. Therefore, there is a need to develop educational programs to inform people about mental disorders associated with COVID-19 and prevent them.
However, public health often depends on people’s socio-cultural characteristics, so programs should reach the widest possible audience by adapting to their cultural and linguistic characteristics (Gruber et al., 2021). Moreover, this option requires additional funding and can be time-consuming. In this case, one criterion to assess the success of increased public health awareness is the number of medical care workers seeking mental health interventions.
Training for Healthcare Providers
Working during the COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on healthcare providers, who are under increased stress. Protecting the mental health of healthcare workers and preventing burnout and other serious mental disorders is a major concern for policymakers (Chirico et al., 2021). Health professionals require additional education to enhance their capacity to identify threats to their mental health and promote self-care.
Promoting self-care and coping techniques for healthcare providers will help reduce mental health issues and reduce the need for funding for additional services. Training for healthcare professionals’ option would be considered successful if more healthcare workers prioritized their mental health.
Organization of Services
Another option is to organize and implement services to support the mental health of medical workers. These services may include group or individual consultations with a psychologist (Janeway, 2020). Establishing such services in hospitals and making them available to all healthcare professionals will increase the ability of healthcare staff to cope with stress and anxiety. Moreover, group consultations facilitate interaction among healthcare professionals, which is an effective way to address mental health issues (Janeway, 2020).
Healthcare workers who have already been diagnosed with mental disorders caused by working conditions should receive the necessary treatment and rehabilitation. However, the disadvantage of this option is the need to adjust working conditions and secure funding. This option can be evaluated by observing whether the number of healthcare workers reporting adverse mental health outcomes reduces after its implementation.
Changing of Working Conditions
Another way to improve the psychological state of healthcare providers is to change the working conditions of staff. Braquehais et al. (2020) talk about the need for hospitals to provide workers “with resting places and giving them adequate time to take a break and sleep” (p. 612). During a pandemic, many healthcare workers are required to work irregular schedules and often experience excessive overtime. This reduces opportunities for healthy sleep and nutrition, and increases caffeine intake, which in turn increases stress and anxiety.
To regulate the work schedule, an increase in the number of hospital staff is necessary (Braquehais et al., 2020). However, there is a problem with the lack of qualified employees to bolster the healthcare workforce. This option can be evaluated by observing whether more healthcare workers report better individual well-being after its adoption.
Financing
All proposed options require additional funding from both healthcare institutions and the government. However, one of the main challenges to funding is the lack of an evidence base for advocating the need for intervention (Knapp & Wong, 2020). Hence, there is a need to invest in mental health research during the COVID-19 pandemic. The availability of research confirming the need for interventions to regulate the mental health of health workers will create the necessary conditions for additional funding.
Finding funding sources is another problem due to the limited financial resources of medical institutions. Moreover, government initiatives and programs may not always fully cover the necessary costs in the current economy (Knapp & Wong, 2020). This option can be assessed by formulating Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that indicate the impact of each additional dollar spent on the mental health of healthcare workers.
Recommendations
The pandemic has placed immense pressure on healthcare workers, resulting in increased levels of mental distress and illness. Healthcare workers have been working long hours, dealing with high levels of stress and anxiety, and often risking their lives to care for patients (Søvold et al, 2021). Policymakers must prioritize this issue to ensure that medical professionals are mentally healthy and able to deliver high-quality care to patients. To address this issue, a policy recommendation is to implement mental health support programs. This approach can offer psychological support and enhance resilience among healthcare professionals.
Implementing mental health support programs is a necessary policy recommendation to address the mental health needs of healthcare workers. This program can provide healthcare workers with the psychological assistance, stress reduction, and resilience training necessary to cope with the demands of their jobs (Goldman et al., 2020). Furthermore, the assistance in alleviating everyday mental health issues of medical professionals can prevent the development of more severe mental health conditions, such as depression and burnout.
The implementation of this policy is favored over other policy options because it directly addresses the mental distress and illness experienced by healthcare workers. Secondly, mental health support programs can have a positive impact on the quality of patient care (Søvold et al., 2021). Burnout, depression, and other mental health conditions can lead to a decline in the quality of patient care. That is why mental health support programs are seen to be effective in coping with the demands of their work and keeping their mental health in good shape.
However, during the program implementation, some drawbacks need to be considered. One potential drawback is the cost, as the need for significant funding could pose a challenge for healthcare organizations with limited budgets (Goldman et al., 2020). To overcome this drawback, healthcare organizations could seek funding from government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private donors. Moreover, they could consider allocating resources from existing budgets and re-prioritizing spending to support mental health programs for healthcare workers. These solutions have the potential to increase the success of the policy recommendation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mental health support programs are a policy recommendation that can effectively deal with the mental health needs of healthcare workers during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The effectiveness of such programs has been shown in recent research, and policymakers should prioritize their development and implementation, given the importance of medical practitioners.
The recommendation has a direct impact on the issue and, in perspective, has a positive impact on the quality of patient care. While there are some potential drawbacks to implementing mental health support programs for healthcare workers, these can be overcome by seeking funding from various sources and developing cost-effective programs. By addressing these drawbacks, healthcare organizations can attract and retain healthcare workers.
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