Mental health impacts of COVID-19 widespread within rural health care workforce – despite fewer COVID cases

Image: Shutterstock

A national survey of more than 7800 health care workers during the second wave of the COVID pandemic has found that, compared to their metropolitan based colleagues, rural allied and healthcare workers experienced a high prevalence of mental health symptoms, despite treating very few COVID-19 patients. The survey was led by Associate Professor Natasha Smallwood.

See Faculty story

Mental health survey of frontline health care workers highlights need for better support

A national survey of COVID-19 frontline healthcare workers found more than half reported mental health symptoms during last year’s pandemic second wave – yet less than one in 10 accessed formal support programs.

The study, published in the journal, General Hospital Psychiatry, was led by Associate Professor Natasha Smallwood, from Monash University’s Central Clinical School and The Alfred hospital, and Professor Karen Willis, from the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Victoria University.

See full story

World's largest study of frontline healthcare workers during 2020’s second wave report significant increase in workload

The largest study of the impact of COVID on workplace disruption to front line health care workers has revealed that almost half reported that they had altered paid or unpaid hours, with over one in six being redeployed and one in four reporting changes in work roles. Only 1 percent reported confidence in these new positions. That said, most felt supported by their workplace and this assisted in them having half the risk for severe anxiety, depression, burnout and PTSD than those who did not feel supported by their workplace, a finding the authors argue has relevance to the current crisis.

Read the story here.