New report: Mental health challenges in the EU health and social care sector during COVID-19: strategies for prevention and management/ A literature review

A new report commissioned by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) systematically assesses the magnitude of mental health problems among health and social care workers in the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights how certain groups in the sector like frontline workers and women showed higher prevalence rates of mental health problems such as anxiety, insomnia and burnout. It identifies, assesses and categorises interventions from the pandemic for psychosocial risk and mental health prevention and management, compiling a useful, comprehensive guide of good practices and recommendations for stakeholders seeking to increase resilience and preparedness in the sector for similar future health emergencies.

This systematic assessment provides an in-depth look at the mental health burden on EU health and social care (HeSCare) workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies a range of mental health issues prevalent among these workers, such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, burnout, and even suicidal thoughts. Frontline workers, nurses, aides, Emergency medical technicians, young professionals, and women are noted as especially vulnerable. The study highlights the need for targeted prevention and management strategies to address these risks, particularly focusing on high-risk subgroups.

This publication is part of EU-OSHA’s broader research project ‘Health and social care sector and occupational safety and health (OSH)’ running from 2022 to 2026. It aims to provide evidence-based knowledge on the diverse challenges faced by the sector when it comes to the safety and health of its workers in order to increase awareness and guide the policy-making process.

Acess the report here.