Combating workplace fatigue and trauma in the healthcare profession

Workplace trauma and fatigue rates are rising for Australian and international health care workers. As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses into its third year, issues of prolonged stress, anxiety and burnout are taking their toll on those working across various roles in the healthcare industry.

According to a recent study on Australia's front-line health workers, over 70 per cent of surveyed health workers reported feeling physically and emotionally exhausted due to the increased demands of the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to 5.6 per cent of respondents claimed to have developed PTSD, and over 57 per cent identified as suffering from depression. Similar results have also been recorded across the United States and Canada. According to a recent survey conducted by the Yale School of Medicine, thousands of health workers are currently showing worrying signs of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and have reported experiencing burnout as a result.

Combating workplace fatigue and trauma in Australian health care settings is complicated. Big picture issues such as funding and staffing allocation need to be addressed at government and organisational levels, and individual workers need better support to make healthy decisions around their mental and physical health.

One thing employers can do in the short term is to ensure that their workers have access to a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP)  that understands their industry's unique stressors and challenges. EAP services can be an important lifeline for healthcare workers who may be struggling with personal or workplace-related issues. They are run by qualified and experienced mental health clinicians and offer employees an opportunity to talk about what is happening for them in a safe environment.

Access to a mental health professional who understands the unique stressors and demands of the Australian health care industry is important for staff and management. Individuals who work in the professions of front-line care, such as general practitioners, emergency physicians, nurses and social workers, need to know that their experiences and concerns are understood and validated by someone in the industry. They also need to know that the person walking them through their difficulties understands the unique challenges of working in a healthcare setting at this particular time and place and that their worries can be shared confidentially.

Similarly, employers already struggling with increased staff sick days and resignations need to know they are doing everything they can to look after their staff. By taking a preventative approach, industry-specific EAP programs can help organisations reduce employee grievances and legal claims, save money on costly issues such as workers' compensation, and increase staff productivity and engagement.

For more information on how a health industry focussed EAP program can assist in combatting workplace fatigue and trauma, talk to us today.