Frontline Workers Need New Approaches to Treat COVID-19-Related Mental Health Issues

We’ve long known that the coronavirus pandemic would dramatically impact the mental health of health care professionals and the general population. But just how many of us have been impacted is stunning.

Fully 41% of Americans reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition associated with Covid-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Essential workers had the highest reported rates of adverse mental health outcomes compared to all other employment groups surveyed by the CDC. More than 38% of essential workers reported having a COVID-19-related trauma- and stressor-related disorder. Comparatively, about 25% of nonessential workers reported the same.

Frontline healthcare workers are particularly at risk. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to Covid-19 can be as high as 35% among this group, with nurses and those who have experienced symptoms of the disease being most at risk, according to a review of numerous studies.