Because health care workers are experiencing a great deal of stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is using $103 million from the pandemic relief fund to reduce burnout and provide mental health services for them.
The delta variant has increased hospitalizations in recent weeks, which has added to the pressure, Health Care Dive reported.
The funds will be divided into three categories, including money for hospitals and other providers to support their workforce, money for educational institutions, and money for the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), according to Health Care Dive.
"If you are not vaccinated, you remain at risk," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky said, according to Health Care Dive. "And our biggest concern is that we are going to continue to see preventable cases, hospitalizations and, sadly, deaths among the unvaccinated."
Health care workers said their jobs have strained their mental health, but they ultimately haven't received services to help, Health Care Dive reported.
The funds will be divided up three ways. Health Care Dive reported that $29 million will go to hospitals and providers to expand their wellness programs, $68 million will go to educational institutions and local and nonprofit entities, and $6 million will go to HRSA for assistance for training and resiliency programs in the existing workforce.
Although many health care workers have identified that their jobs have affected their mental health, only a few say that services have helped their mental well-being. Some say their hectic work schedule is to blame, while others say they are too embarrassed to seek out assistance.
KFF/The Washington Post Frontline Health Care Workers Survey showed that the coronavirus has taken quite a toll on health care workers.
"More than half (56%) of all frontline health care workers say that worry or stress related to COVID-19 has caused them to experience trouble with sleeping or sleeping too much (47%), frequent headaches or stomachaches (31%), or increased alcohol or drug use (16%)," KFF reported. "In addition, 13% of health care workers say they have received mental health services or medication due to worry or stress related to COVID-19, and an additional one in five (20%) say they thought they might need such services but did not get them. Among those who felt they needed but didn’t get mental health care, the most commonly cited reasons are because they were too busy (27%), they were afraid or embarrassed about seeking care (17%), they couldn’t afford it (16%) or they couldn’t get time off work (14%)."
Health Care Dive reported that Occupations Safety and Health Administration last month issued an emergency temporary standard to better protect medical professionals from spreading COVID-19 by providing access to vaccines, paid time off and accommodations for those who have to quarantine.
