ENACTstudy: What has helped health and social care workers maintain their mental well‐being during theCOVID‐19 pandemic?

• DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13992
• Publication Date: 2022-09-07T04:14:26Z
• Authors: Nicola Cogan; Chloe Kennedy; Zoe Beck; Lisa McInnes; Gillian MacIntyre; Liza Morton; Gary Tanner; Jacek Kolacz
• Keywords: SDG 16 - Peace; Sociology and Political Science; Empirical Research Mixed Methods; Health Personnel; Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine; 150; 610; health and social care workers; adaptation; peer support; recovery; H; 03 medical and health sciences; wellbeing; 0302 clinical medicine; SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being; well-being; RA0421; social care practitioners; risk factors; Humans; Pandemics; healthcare workers; pandemic; Health Policy; help-seeking; Environmental and Occupational Health; COVID-19; Social Support; SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities; Justice and Strong Institutions; 3. Good health; coping; Mental Health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Communicable Disease Control; Public Health; mental health; Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

A growing body of research has highlighted the adverse impact of COVID-19 stressors on health and social care workers' (HSCWs) mental health. Complementing this work, we report on the psychosocial factors that have had both a positive and negative impact on the mental well-being of HSCWs during the third lockdown period in Scotland. Using a cross-sectional design, participants (n = 1364) completed an online survey providing quantitative data and free open-text responses. A multi-method approach to analysis was used. The majority of HSCWs were found to have low well-being scores, high levels of COVID-19 stress, worry, burnout and risk perception scores and almost half of HSCWs met the clinical cut-off for acute stress (indicative of PTSD). HSCWs with higher scores on adaptive coping strategies and team resilience reported higher scores on mental well-being. HSCWs were significantly more likely to seek informal support for dealing with personal or emotional problems compared to formal supports. Barriers to formal help-seeking were identified including stigma and fear of the consequences of disclosure. HSCWs mostly valued peer support, workplace supports, visible leadership and teamwork in maintaining their mental well-being. Our findings illuminate the complexity of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on HSCWs' well-being and will inform future intervention development seeking to increase positive adaptation and improve staff well-being. Addressing barriers to mental health help-seeking among HSCWs is essential. The implications emphasise the importance of lessons learned across health and social care contexts, planning and preparedness for future pandemics.