Under pressure: A systematic review of the mental health impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health workers.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic emerged suddenly, profoundly impacting the lives of us all, including mental health workers (MHW). This unprecedented crisis introduced significant challenges for MHW, exposing them to increased risks of psychological distress. This systematic review aims to evaluate the psychopathological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on MHW. Additionally, it seeks to explore factors-social, regional, occupational, and others-influencing these effects. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase databases following PRISMA guidelines. A total of 2621 citations were screened, with 29 studies meeting the inclusion criteria for analysis. Our review focused exclusively on studies utilizing validated measurement tools to ensure reliability. Our findings revealed a high prevalence of anxiety, depression, stress, trauma-related disorders, and burnout among mental health nurses and other MHW during the COVID-19 pandemic, with significant variations based on regional, occupational, gender, and other demographic factors. Depressive symptoms ranged from 16.8% to 52.2%, and anxiety levels varied from 9.7% to 63% among MHW. Interestingly, MHW exhibited lower rates of depression and anxiety compared to other healthcare workers and the general population, possibly indicating higher resilience. Factors such as younger age, female gender, profession, work setting, fear of COVID-19, and workload were associated with increased psychological distress. Our review also underscores the need for more systematically accurate trauma research, particularly in how trauma is defined and assessed during global crises. While the consistency in study findings highlights the considerable effect of the pandemic, we observed differences that suggest the influence of multiple interacting factors. The lack of longitudinal studies and comparative data limits the ability to determine changes over time and differences with other groups. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the mental health of those responsible for caring for the mental health of others, with considerable variations influenced by multiple interacting factors. Our findings highlight the critical need for protective protocols and psychological support systems to mitigate adverse effects on MHW during global crises. The variance in impact across different countries, in relation to local, political, cultural, and other factors, provides a foundation for future research.