# Ontario healthcare workers who sought treatment for their mental health during the first five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: a snapshot of self-referrals across the province

## TL;DR

This study examines mental health treatment-seeking patterns among Ontario healthcare workers during the first five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into how mental health issues among healthcare workers evolved with pandemic waves and highlights common presenting problems.

## Key findings

- Most self-referred healthcare workers were female and White, with over 60% working in hospitals.
- Generalized anxiety/worry and depression were the most common mental health issues reported.
- Referral patterns aligned with the timing of pandemic waves, indicating stress linked to pandemic surges.

## Abstract

Healthcare workers (HCWs) have reported COVID-19 pandemic-related adverse mental health impacts. We examined the demographic profile of HCWs who self-referred for mental health treatment, how referrals changed over time in relation to waves of COVID-19, what the main problem was for which HCWs sought treatment, and how this changed during the pandemic.

Five major healthcare institutions provided mental health supports to HCWs across Ontario during the pandemic. Data from May 2020 to March 2022 were collected from 2725 HCW self-referrals regarding referral frequency, main presenting mental health problem and demographic information including ethnicity, gender, age, healthcare setting, profession and whether the HCW had a prior mental health diagnosis or had received prior mental health treatment.

Treatment-seeking HCWs who self-referred predominantly self-identified as female and White. Almost half were nurses, and almost half had received previous mental health treatment; a slightly higher percentage reported a prior mental health diagnosis. Over 60% of the overall sample of HCWs worked in hospitals. The timing of increases and decreases in monthly new referrals roughly aligned with the onset and ending, respectively, of COVID-19 waves. The top five most common presenting problems for treatment-seeking were generalized anxiety/worry symptoms, depression, situational crisis/acute stress response, difficulty with stress/occupational or financial, and posttraumatic stress symptoms.

Ontario HCWs self-referred to access mental health supports during the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority sought treatment for generalized anxiety/worry or depression symptoms. Results of this study may inform system planning for future pandemics, as well as for HCW wellness programs for continued workplace stress in the postpandemic period.