Patients have the right to access mental health care and support.
HEALTH
WORKERS HAVE
THE RIGHT, TOO
Health Workers Have the Right, Too
Support health workers access to mental health care. A stronger system is within reach.
Let’s Eliminate Systemic Barriers to Mental Health Care for Health Workers
By working together, we can build a system that prioritizes mental health for those who care for us, ensuring health workers can access mental health care without fear of repercussions.
- Learn how to better support health workers access to mental health care
- Act to eliminate systemic barriers to mental health care for health workers
- Communicate to health workers it is safe to seek mental health care
Explore How to Be ALL IN for Mental Health
Accessible and Affordable Mental Health Care
Ensure accessible and affordable mental health care for health workers, with care available off-hours, unpenalized time off, and affordable treatment options.
Confidential Professional or Physician Health Program Support
Strengthen health workers’ access to confidential Professional or Physician Health Programs (PHPs) accountability, consistency, and excellence in supporting the health of the healthcare community.
Equal Privacy in Mental Health Care
Commit to equal privacy in mental health care for health workers, ensuring confidentiality of diagnoses and treatments, protection during litigation, and access to external care options.
Confidential Peer Support
Guarantee confidential peer support for health workers, ensuring access to safe, private programs to address work-related stress and trauma while protecting their privacy.
Education and Training on Mental Health and Professional Wellbeing
Encourage education and training on mental health and wellbeing for health workers, including evidence-based continuing education, best-practice resources, and preparation to manage the unique stressors of patient care.
Supportive Pathway for Re-Entry
Advance a supportive pathway for re-entry for health workers, ensuring a transparent, structured, and reasonable process to return to practice.
The challenges and pressures of caring for patients can significantly impact the mental and physical health of healthcare professionals. To genuinely prioritize patient care, we must support the wellbeing of those who provide it. By investing in their wellbeing and removing obstacles that hinder their access to necessary support, we can ultimately shape the success and future of our healthcare system.
Dami Babaniji, DO
As a nurse, suicide attempt survivor, and mental health provider, I know firsthand the fear that health workers face when seeking mental health care. We must dismantle the systemic, policy, and cultural barriers that force health workers to suffer in silence. Our wellbeing should never come at the cost of our careers.
Christopher Wojnar, MSN, APNP, PMHNP-BC
My physician husband Mo dedicated his life to “fixing broken people”. He was passionate and grateful to have the “best job” he could have imagined. In 2022, he became deeply distraught and depressed due to an administrative situation—and refused mental health treatment because he feared it would affect his career and licensure. He died by suicide in August 2022. This is preventable for other families. All health workers deserve to access help, without fear.
Tammy Brown
Free, Confidential Mental Health Support for Health Workers
Show Health Workers Your Institution Supports Mental Health Privacy
