Mental Health Challenges for Canadian Healthcare Workers: What You Need to Know

Healthcare workers in Canada, especially in Alberta, are vital to our communities. These professionals, including nurses, doctors, paramedics, and support staff, often prioritize patient care over their own well-being. This demanding work, along with other challenges, puts them at a higher risk for mental health issues. It’s essential for these workers and the healthcare system to understand these challenges, spot the warning signs, and know how to get support.

Challenges Faced by Healthcare Workers in Canada

The job of a healthcare worker comes with a lot of pressure and risk. The commitment to helping others can often lead to mental health struggles. Here are some key factors that contribute to this:

1. Burnout: Feeling Drained

Burnout is more than just being tired. It’s a state of complete emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by long-term stress. It involves:

Emotional Exhaustion: Feeling drained and unable to deal with work demands. It’s more than regular tiredness; it’s a deep feeling of being emotionally used up.
Depersonalization: Developing a negative attitude towards patients and their care. This can mean losing empathy and compassion. Healthcare workers might start seeing patients as cases, not people.
Reduced Personal Accomplishment: Feeling like you’re not doing a good job and lacking a sense of achievement. This can lead to self-doubt and questioning your career choice.

A survey by Alberta Health Services found that 66% of nurses reported feeling burnout. This shows how widespread the problem is. Burnout statistics are highest among all Canadian Industries (53%). PTSD in Alberta’s healthcare workers is often linked to burnout.

2. Compassion Fatigue: The Price of Caring

Compassion fatigue is a specific type of burnout that affects those in caring professions. It comes from constantly being exposed to the suffering of others. Healthcare workers see pain, illness, and death regularly. While they’re trained to cope, the build-up of these experiences can be overwhelming. A study on PubMed Central highlights the impact of compassion fatigue and emphasizes the need to address it.

3. Moral Distress: When You Can’t Do What’s Right

Moral distress happens when a healthcare worker knows the right thing to do but is prevented from doing it by rules or limits. This might involve situations where:

Patient care suffers because of staff shortages.
A healthcare worker disagrees with a treatment decision but can’t change it.
Limited resources force tough choices about prioritizing patient care.

A survey in SAGE Journals found that 82% of community health nurses across Canada reported experiencing moral distress. This shows a big gap between what healthcare workers believe is right and what they can actually do.

Moral Distress Dilemma

4. Workplace Stress: Many Factors

Workplace stress in healthcare isn’t just one thing; it’s a combination of several factors:

Heavy Workloads: Not enough staff and too many patients mean healthcare workers have to do more with less.
Long Hours: Extended shifts and overtime are common, leading to tiredness and less work-life balance.
Fear of Infection: The risk of getting sick, especially during pandemics, adds constant worry.
Lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Shortages of PPE, like during the COVID-19 pandemic, can increase stress and fear.
Staffing Shortages: A constant problem in many healthcare settings, leading to more work and pressure.
Exposure to Workplace Violence: Healthcare workers sometimes face violence from patients or their families. A study shows many threats of assault (32%) and actual physical assaults (46%) at work.

A study in Tandem looks deeper into workplace stress in healthcare.

5. Exposure to Trauma: Witnessing Difficult Events

Healthcare workers, especially in emergency, critical, and end-of-life care, often see traumatic events. These can include:

Serious injuries and illnesses.
Patient deaths, especially sudden ones.
Large-scale accidents or disasters.

This repeated exposure can lead to post-traumatic stress symptoms or PTSD. Research on PubMed Central explores how common PTSD is among healthcare workers. One of the key prevention strategies for PTSD in healthcare is early intervention.

6. Long Working Hours: Blurring Work and Life

Long hours are a big problem in healthcare. They upset the balance between work and personal life, leading to:

Fatigue: Constant tiredness that affects thinking and decision-making.
Burnout: Long hours are a major cause of burnout.
Reduced Time for Self-Care: Less time for exercise, hobbies, and loved ones.
Relationship Strain: Trouble keeping healthy relationships due to limited time and energy.

The Tandem study also covers research on long working hours.

The Ripple Effect: What Happens When Mental Health is Ignored

When healthcare workers’ mental health problems aren’t addressed, the effects spread, impacting both the individuals and the healthcare system:

A. For the Healthcare Worker:

Reduced Personal Well-being: A lower quality of life, less happiness, and satisfaction.
Decreased Job Performance: Trouble focusing, making decisions, and providing good care.
Increased Absenteeism: More sick days due to physical and mental health issues.
Substance Abuse: Using alcohol or drugs to cope.
Increased Risk of Suicide: A tragic result in severe cases of untreated mental illness.
Physical Health Problems: Long-term stress can cause physical illnesses like heart disease and weakened immunity.

B. For Patient Care:

Increased Risk of Medical Errors: Tiredness and poor thinking can lead to mistakes in diagnosis, treatment, and giving medication.
Decreased Empathy and Compassion: Burnout and compassion fatigue can reduce a healthcare worker’s ability to connect with patients.
Impaired Communication: Trouble communicating clearly with patients and colleagues, leading to misunderstandings and errors.
Greater Staff Shortages: Healthcare workers leaving the profession due to burnout and mental health problems make existing staff shortages worse.

A report by the Mental Health National Organization details the effects of mental health on workers.

Recognizing the Signs: Early Warning Signals

Early detection of mental health struggles is important to prevent things from getting worse. Healthcare workers and their colleagues should watch for these warning signs:

Changes in Sleep Patterns: Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, waking up too early, or having nightmares.
Changes in Appetite: Noticeable weight loss or gain without trying to change diet.
Mood Swings: Feeling sad, hopeless, anxious, irritable, or emotionally numb for long periods.
Social Withdrawal: Avoiding friends, family, and coworkers; not wanting to socialize.
Increased Irritability: Getting angry, frustrated, or short-tempered easily.
Loss of Interest: Losing interest in things that used to be enjoyable, like hobbies or spending time with loved ones.
Difficulty Concentrating: Trouble focusing, remembering things, and making decisions, even with routine tasks.
Physical Symptoms: Unexplained headaches, stomach problems, muscle tension, or constant tiredness.
Increased Substance Use: Using alcohol, tobacco, or drugs to cope with emotions and problems.
Taking more sick days due to mental health concerns
Feeling so burnt out the desire to change careers is strong

The CDC website provides an overview of health worker mental health and signs to look out for.

Workplace Triggers: Specific Stressful Events

Certain events in healthcare can be especially triggering:

Patient Deaths: Especially unexpected, traumatic ones, or those involving children.
Exposure to Violence or Aggression: From patients or their families.
Medical Errors: Even small mistakes can have a big emotional impact.
Difficult Patients: Dealing with patients who are verbally abusive, uncooperative, or have unrealistic expectations.
High-Pressure Situations: Emergencies, large-scale accidents, or situations where there aren’t enough resources.
Workplace violence. The CDC provides further information on this.

Organizational Culture: Creating a Supportive Environment

The culture within a healthcare organization is important for encouraging or discouraging people to seek help. A supportive culture, as described by Incredible Workplaces, has these features:

Open Communication: Encouraging staff to talk about their mental health without fear of being judged.
Reduced Stigma: Working to eliminate the stigma around mental illness.
Accessible Resources: Providing easy access to mental health services and support.
Leadership Support: Leaders who prioritize mental health and show healthy behaviors.
Transformational Leadership: Inspiring employees to care about mental health. PubMed Central

Supportive Healthcare Team

Barriers to Seeking Help: Why People Don’t Ask for Support

Even with increased awareness, many healthcare workers don’t seek help. Several factors contribute to this:

Stigma: The fear of being seen as weak or unable to handle the job. Science Direct highlights the stigma around mental health.
Fear of Professional Repercussions: Worries about licensing, job security, or career advancement.
Lack of Access to Services: Limited availability of mental health professionals, especially in rural parts of Alberta and Canada. Science Direct also highlights this.
Time Constraints: Long hours and busy schedules leave little time for self-care or seeking help.
Wanting to deal with issues without help.
Feeling seeking help is a negative thing.
Not being aware of mental health changes. PubMed Central details this.

Strategies for Overcoming Barriers

Addressing these barriers requires a multi-step approach:

Promote Mental Health Literacy: Teach healthcare workers about mental health conditions, warning signs, and available resources. This should be an ongoing effort, part of training and professional development.
Reduce Stigma: Create a culture of openness and acceptance. This can involve sharing personal stories, promoting mental health campaigns, and training leaders to address stigma.
Increase Access to Services: Provide on-site mental health support, telehealth options (especially for rural areas), and employee assistance programs (EAPs). Make sure these services are confidential and easy to access.
Implement Peer Support Programs: Train healthcare workers to support their colleagues. Peer support can be helpful for those who are hesitant to seek formal help.
Federal Funding Commitments: Increased funding for mental health services is essential. SAGE Journals

Resources: Where to Get Help in Canada and Alberta

Healthcare workers in Canada and Alberta have access to several resources:

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): Offered through employers, these programs provide confidential counseling and support. They are often the first place employees go for help.
Professional Organizations: The Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Nurses Association, and provincial regulatory bodies offer resources, support, and advocacy for their members’ mental health.
Mental Health Helplines:
- Alberta Mental Health Line: 1-877-303-2642 (available 24/7). This helpline provides crisis support, information, and referrals to mental health services. Canada.ca
- Crisis Services Canada: 1-833-456-4566 (available 24/7) or text 45645. This national service offers crisis support and suicide prevention.
- Addiction & Mental Health 1-888-594-0211. Alberta Health Services
Specialized Therapy: Therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are effective for treating various mental health conditions.
Alberta Health Services: Offers mental health and wellness resources, including workshops, online tools, and information on self-care. Alberta Health Services
Youth Mental Health Hubs: Including 2SLGBTQQIA+ resources. Alberta.ca
Alberta Government Website: Alberta.ca Provides information on mental health services, support, and government initiatives.

Mental telehealth support for first responders in Alberta is also available.

When to Seek Help: Knowing When It’s Time

There’s no single answer to when a healthcare worker should seek support. It depends on individual coping skills, how severe the symptoms are, and the support available from family, friends, and colleagues. However, a general rule is to seek help when symptoms:

Interfere with daily life (work, relationships, self-care).
Cause significant distress.
Last for more than a few weeks.
Don’t improve with self-care.

Early intervention is key. The sooner a healthcare worker seeks help, the better the chances of preventing more serious mental health problems. Effective PTSD treatments for healthcare workers are more successful with early intervention.

Legislation and Policy Changes: Improving the Landscape

Laws and policies are important in protecting and promoting healthcare workers’ mental health.

Alberta’s Mental Health Act (MHA): Provides safeguards and support for people with mental disorders, including involuntary treatment in some cases. Alberta Health Services
Bill 26: Introduces major changes to Alberta’s health laws, with potential effects on mental health service delivery. Miller Thomson
Bill 17: Mental Health Amendment Act: Aims to strengthen the rights of individuals under the Mental Health Act. Alberta Health Services

Effective Mental Health Programs

First Responders’ Mental Health Grants: Provide funding for organizations that support the mental health of first responders, who are at high risk for post-traumatic stress injuries. Alberta.ca
Recovery Alberta: A government agency that provides addiction and mental health services.
Drop-in Psycho-Educational Support Groups: Designed for first responders, these groups offer a safe space for education and to understand mental health challenges.
Prevention of mental health disorders in PSCs

Moving Forward

The mental health of healthcare workers is a shared responsibility. It affects not only the individuals but also the quality of care for all Canadians. By working together—individuals, organizations, and governments—we can improve mental health literacy, reduce stigma, increase access to services, and create supportive workplace cultures. The well-being of our healthcare workers is directly linked to the well-being of our communities. Investing in their mental health is an investment in the health of the nation.

If you are a healthcare worker in Alberta and are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to Responders First for support. We are here to help you navigate these challenges and find the resources you need to thrive.

Don Davis

15+ years of emergency response experience. Passionate about connecting our first responder communities with critical resources. Author of hundreds of articles and guides on First Responders mental health care. When not responding to emergencies, you can find me playing with my dogs, hiking, or enjoying a good book.