The impact of traumatic experiences, coping mechanisms, and workplace benefits on the mental health of U.S. public health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Highlights

• Information on the mental health of public health workers due to prolonged exposure to stressors from the COVID-19 response is limited.

• For public health workers, feeling isolated and alone was associated with increased odds of reporting symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal ideation.

• Respondents’ ability to take time off was protective against adverse mental health outcomes.

• Social isolation might be a risk factor for adverse mental health outcomes among public health workers that warrants the attention of public health organizations.

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the association between risk factors, mitigating factors, and adverse mental health outcomes among United States public health workers.

Methods

Cross-sectional online survey data were collected March to April 2021. The survey was distributed to public health workers who worked in a state, tribal, local, or territorial public health department since March 2020.

Results

In total, 26,174 United States state and local public health workers completed the survey. Feeling isolated was a risk factor for anxiety (PR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.74–1.95), depression (PR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.75–1.94), post-traumatic stress disorder (PR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.43–1.57), and suicidal ideation (PR, 3.23; 95% CI, 2.82–3.69). The ability to take time off was linked to fewer reported symptoms of anxiety (PR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.83–0.90), depression (PR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.83–0.89), post-traumatic stress disorder (PR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.81–0.88), and suicidal ideation (PR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.77–0.92).

Conclusions

Since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, respondents who felt isolated and alone were at an increased risk for adverse mental health outcomes. Findings from this study call for public health organizations to provide their workforce with services and resources to mitigate adverse mental health outcomes.