COVID-19 Pandemic Takes a Devastating Toll on Australian Healthcare Workers

Strategic Insights -

Australian healthcare workers have experienced high levels of stress, anxiety, and burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 10.5% reporting thoughts of suicide or self-harm over a two-week period.

Key Takeaways:

  • 819 (10.5%) out of 7795 healthcare workers reported thoughts of suicide or self-harm over a 2-week period.
  • Healthcare workers with thoughts of suicide or self-harm experienced higher rates of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and burnout than their peers.
  • Factors that increased the odds of suicide or self-harm thoughts included:

+ Having friends or family infected with COVID-19 (odds ratio = 1.24)

+ Living alone (odds ratio = 1.32)

+ Being younger ( 50 years; odds ratio = 1.70)

+ Being male (odds ratio = 1.81)

+ Increased alcohol use (odds ratio = 1.58)

+ Poor physical health (odds ratio = 1.62)

+ Increased income worries (odds ratio = 1.81)

+ Prior mental illness (odds ratio = 3.27)

  • Having dependent children was found to be protective against suicide or self-harm thoughts (odds ratio = 0.75).
  • Fewer than half (388/819) of healthcare workers who reported thoughts of suicide or self-harm sought professional support.
  • Factors that increased the likelihood of seeking help included:

+ Being younger ( 50 years; odds ratio = 1.78)

+ Having prior mental health concerns (odds ratio = 4.47)

Statistics:

  • 10.5% of healthcare workers reported thoughts of suicide or self-harm over a 2-week period.
  • 10% of Australian healthcare workers reported thoughts of suicide or self-harm during the pandemic.
  • 55% of healthcare workers with thoughts of suicide or self-harm did not seek professional help.

Sources:

  • NewsRx
  • "Thoughts of Suicide or Self-harm Among Australian Healthcare Workers During the Covid-19 Pandemic." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2022;56(12):1555-1565.
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia
  • Royal Melbourne Hospital Foundation
  • Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation