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COVID-19

Mental Health Support for Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research conducted by Hiroshima University has found that various countries and institutions employed different strategies to support the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study, which analyzed 34 articles from esteemed databases, revealed that mental health consultation services, group activities, and peer support strategies played a crucial role in addressing the psychological burden experienced by HCWs. However, many interventions suffered from low participation and a lack of tailored content, despite their apparent effectiveness. The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive mental health support that addresses systemic factors, such as adequate staffing, training, and resource allocation.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mental health consultation services, including telephone support lines, online interventions, and apps, were critical in addressing the psychological burden experienced by HCWs.
  • Group activities and peer support strategies offered personalized support and enhanced the well-being of HCWs.
  • Educational programs provided crucial information on stress management, but often lacked tailored content and had low participation rates.
  • Comprehensive mental health support must address systemic factors, such as staffing, training, and resource allocation.
  • Leadership commitment to tackling root causes and HCW involvement in program design is essential for effective interventions.
  • Research gaps, particularly in low-resource settings, highlight the need for further studies to enhance preparedness for future crises.
  • The study was financially supported by the World Health Organization Kobe Centre for Health Development.

Statistics:

  • 34 articles were ultimately included in the final analysis from a pool of 1330 retrieved articles from PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of Science.
  • Of the 34 included articles, 24 focused on psychological support and resilience-building for HCWs.
  • 17 interventions provided mental health consultation services, including telephone support lines, online interventions, and apps.
  • 12 studies reported on group activities and peer support strategies.
  • 6 articles discussed educational programs and investments in staff training.

Sources:

  • Research cited in NewsRx, "Hiroshima University Reports Findings in COVID-19 (Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health emergency and disaster risk management systems: a scoping review of mental health support provided to health care workers)", Psychology & Psychiatry Journal, 2025; p 6.
  • Journal of Occupational Health, "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health emergency and disaster risk management systems: a scoping review of mental health support provided to health care workers", 2025;67(1).
  • World Health Organization Kobe Centre for Health Development.

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