Remove barriers to mental health care for health workers (Dr Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation)

Summary

Like everyone, health workers deserve the right to pursue mental health care without fear of losing their job. However, overly invasive mental health questions in licensing and credentialing applications prevent health workers from seeking support and are a primary driver of suicide in the healthcare workforce.

Such questioning tends to be broad or stigmatizing, such as asking about past mental health care and substance use treatment, which has no bearing on a health worker’s ability to provide care and may violate the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Dr Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation’s mission is to reduce burnout of health care professionals and safeguard their well-being and job satisfaction. We envision a world where seeking mental health services is universally viewed as a sign of strength for health care professionals.

The Foundation has three main bodies of work targeted at making a long-standing impact on this issue:

• Advising the health care industry to implement well-being initiatives.
• Building awareness of these issues to reduce the stigma.
• Funding research and programmes that will reduce health care professional burnout and improve provider well-being.