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Depression, Anxiety and Emotional Problems Among Healthcare Workers
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Depression, Anxiety and Emotional Problems Among Healthcare Workers

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-being".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2026 | Viewed by 12546

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sai fu Fung

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Guest Editor
Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
Interests: computational social science; health-related quality of life (HRQOL); political sociology; digital health; social gerontology; sports; psychometrics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This special issue aims to explore the pressing mental health concerns of depression, anxiety, and emotional problems among healthcare workers. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the already high levels of stress within this profession, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive research into the psychological well-being of these individuals.

Healthcare workers frequently face prolonged exposure to traumatic events, high workloads, and emotional exhaustion, which can lead to significant mental health challenges. This issue seeks to gather empirical studies, reviews, and case studies that address the prevalence, causes, and consequences of these issues, as well as effective interventions and support systems.

This Special Issue aims to invite contributions that examine various aspects, including the impact of workplace culture, the role of resilience, and the effectiveness of mental health resources. Additionally, papers focusing on specific subgroups, such as nurses, paramedics, and support staff, are particularly welcome. By shedding light on these critical issues, I hope to foster a deeper understanding and encourage the implementation of strategies that promote mental well-being, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for both healthcare workers and the patients they serve.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following: Prevalence and risk factors, coping mechanisms, intervention strategies, stigma and disclosure, role of training and education, comparative studies, and policy changes.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Sai-fu Fung
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mental health
  • occupational stress
  • burnout
  • resilience
  • well-being
  • depression
  • psychological support
  • work-life balance
  • trauma exposure
  • interventions

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 223 KB  
Article
Enhancing Resilience and Connection: SigBee® Implementation After the Maui Wildfires
by Zoe Primack, Callum Chertavian, Tessa Palafu, Michelle Liu, Savannah Goshgarian-Miller, Alistair Deakin, Matt Clement, Keala Kaopuiki-Santos, Tia Hartsock and Kelsie Okamura
Healthcare 2025, 13(23), 3004; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13233004 - 21 Nov 2025
Viewed by 253
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Disaster service providers responding to natural disasters face significant mental health challenges, including burnout, anxiety, and secondary trauma, which can impair both individual well-being and team functioning. Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) offer scalable solutions and have demonstrated efficacy in supporting [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Disaster service providers responding to natural disasters face significant mental health challenges, including burnout, anxiety, and secondary trauma, which can impair both individual well-being and team functioning. Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) offer scalable solutions and have demonstrated efficacy in supporting individual mental health outcomes for healthcare workers and emergency responders. Team cohesion is also a critical protective factor for disaster responders; yet, most DMHIs fail to address critical team-level dynamics that are essential for effective disaster response. This study examines baseline characteristics that predict engagement and domain scores with SigBee®, a digital team check-in intervention designed to enhance both individual resilience and team connection among disaster service providers responding to the 2023 Maui wildfires. Methods: Twenty-two disaster service providers from three organizations participated in a three-month pilot implementation of SigBee®. Pre-implementation surveys measured team connection, resilience, well-being, and technology usability using validated instruments, such as the Predictive 6 Factor Resilience Scale (PR6). SigBee® aggregate user data tracked daily check-ins across four domains: team connection, resilience, wellbeing, and job confidence. Correlation analyses examined relationships between baseline measures, platform engagement, and SigBee® domains. Results: Pre-implementation surveys revealed high baseline resilience and above-average interpersonal trust among participants. There were significant correlations between SigBee® use and PR6 Tenacity. Aggregated resilience scores correlated with PR6 Health across all pilot months. Conclusions: Baseline resilience characteristics strongly predict platform engagement and domain outcomes among disaster service providers. Results suggest that structured self-reflection through digital check-ins can enhance individual resilience, particularly for individuals with higher baseline tenacity. This research addresses critical gaps in DMHIs by supporting both individual mental health and team dynamics that are essential for effective disaster response among healthcare workers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Depression, Anxiety and Emotional Problems Among Healthcare Workers)
12 pages, 625 KB  
Article
Providing Compassionate Care: A Qualitative Study of Compassion Fatigue Among Midwives and Gynecologists
by Sarah Vandekerkhof, Laura Malisse, Stefanie Steegen, Florence D’haenens, Hanne Kindermans and Sarah Van Haeken
Healthcare 2025, 13(22), 2908; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13222908 - 14 Nov 2025
Viewed by 547
Abstract
Background: Compassion fatigue (CF) is a state of emotional and physical exhaustion in the caregiving relationship, which can negatively impact patient safety and quality of care. Maternity care professionals are particularly vulnerable to CF due to their continuous empathetic engagement with patients [...] Read more.
Background: Compassion fatigue (CF) is a state of emotional and physical exhaustion in the caregiving relationship, which can negatively impact patient safety and quality of care. Maternity care professionals are particularly vulnerable to CF due to their continuous empathetic engagement with patients in an unpredictable, high-stress work environment. Despite its significance, research on CF in maternity care is limited. The aim of this study is to explore experiences of CF among maternity care professionals. Methods: A thematic analysis of semi-structured in-depth interviews was conducted. The sample consisted of seven midwives and three gynecologists from different hospitals and outpatient care in Flanders (Belgium). Results: Experiences, risk factors and protective factors were identified as three organizing themes and further refined into 12 subthemes. Participants showed limited familiarity with the term CF but recognized its symptoms, including emotional exhaustion, reduced empathy, and a diminished ability to provide care, ‘as one normally would’. Key risk factors included high workload, emotional strain from ‘energy-consuming’ patients, fear of errors, and administrative burden. A supportive team environment, compassion satisfaction (CS), job autonomy and personal coping skills were identified as protective factors. Participants emphasized the need to recognize and address signals of CF. Conclusions: CF among maternity care professionals is underrecognized but appears to impact both caregiver well-being and patient care quality. Interventions should target awareness, team communication, psychological safety, and organizational context. A multilevel approach—combining individual, team, and systemic strategies—is needed to sustainably mitigate CF in maternity care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Depression, Anxiety and Emotional Problems Among Healthcare Workers)
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11 pages, 613 KB  
Article
Frontline Healthcare Workers’ Reluctance to Access Psychological Support and Wellness Resources During COVID-19
by Kevin P. Young, Diana L. Kolcz, Jennifer Ferrand, David M. O’Sullivan and Kenneth Robinson
Healthcare 2025, 13(22), 2887; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13222887 - 13 Nov 2025
Viewed by 352
Abstract
Background/Objectives: We sought to determine the factors associated with Emergency Department (ED) healthcare workers (HCW) reluctance to seek, utilize, or take advantage of psychological support services during the pandemic. Methods: A 53-item survey, delivered via REDCap, was completed by ED staff [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: We sought to determine the factors associated with Emergency Department (ED) healthcare workers (HCW) reluctance to seek, utilize, or take advantage of psychological support services during the pandemic. Methods: A 53-item survey, delivered via REDCap, was completed by ED staff in seven hospitals between 15 July 2020 and 24 August 2020. Results: 351 participants (28.7% response rate) completed the survey with 20.1% of respondents endorsing clinically significant psychiatric symptoms and 31.7% of participants endorsing burnout. 75% of those who endorsed significant emotional symptoms did not seek formal psychological support. Most of those (33/44) who did not seek support, despite anxiety and/or depression, reported experiencing practical barriers (access, cost, time, confidentiality) while emotional barriers (not wanting to acknowledge needing help; stigma; embarrassment) were endorsed by 22.7% (10/44). Conclusions: These findings offer several opportunities for intervention, including changes to workflow and culture in the ED which may address emotional barriers to self-care and pragmatic system changes that may help address practical barriers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Depression, Anxiety and Emotional Problems Among Healthcare Workers)
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27 pages, 4187 KB  
Article
Assessing Occupational Work-Related Stress and Anxiety of Healthcare Staff During COVID-19 Using Fuzzy Natural Language-Based Association Rule Mining
by Abdulaziz S. Alkabaa, Osman Taylan, Hanan S. Alqabbaa and Bulent Guloglu
Healthcare 2025, 13(14), 1745; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13141745 - 18 Jul 2025
Viewed by 925
Abstract
Background/Objective: Frontline healthcare staff who contend diseases and mitigate their transmission were repeatedly exposed to high-risk conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. They were at risk of mental health issues, in particular, psychological stress, depression, anxiety, financial stress, and/or burnout. This study aimed to [...] Read more.
Background/Objective: Frontline healthcare staff who contend diseases and mitigate their transmission were repeatedly exposed to high-risk conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. They were at risk of mental health issues, in particular, psychological stress, depression, anxiety, financial stress, and/or burnout. This study aimed to investigate and evaluate the occupational stress of medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and other hospital support crew during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. Methods: We collected both qualitative and quantitative data from a survey given to public and private hospitals using methods like correspondence analysis, cluster analysis, and structural equation models to investigate the work-related stress (WRS) and anxiety of the staff. Since health-related factors are unclear and uncertain, a fuzzy association rule mining (FARM) method was created to address these problems and find out the levels of work-related stress (WRS) and anxiety. The statistical results and K-means clustering method were used to find the best number of fuzzy rules and the level of fuzziness in clusters to create the FARM approach and to predict the work-related stress and anxiety of healthcare staff. This innovative approach allows for a more nuanced appraisal of the factors contributing to work-related stress and anxiety, ultimately enabling healthcare organizations to implement targeted interventions. By leveraging these insights, management can foster a healthier work environment that supports staff well-being and enhances overall productivity. This study also aimed to identify the relevant health factors that are the root causes of work-related stress and anxiety to facilitate better preparation and motivation of the staff for reorganizing resources and equipment. Results: The results and findings show that when the financial burden (FIN) of healthcare staff increased, WRS and anxiety increased. Similarly, a rise in psychological stress caused an increase in WRS and anxiety. The psychological impact (PCG) ratio and financial impact (FIN) were the most influential factors for the staff’s anxiety. The FARM results and findings revealed that improving the financial situation of healthcare staff alone was not sufficient during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: This study found that while the impact of PCG was significant, its combined effect with FIN was more influential on staff’s work-related stress and anxiety. This difference was due to the mutual effects of PCG and FIN on the staff’s motivation. The findings will help healthcare managers make decisions to reduce or eliminate the WRS and anxiety experienced by healthcare staff in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Depression, Anxiety and Emotional Problems Among Healthcare Workers)
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22 pages, 376 KB  
Article
Impact of a Single Virtual Reality Relaxation Session on Mental-Health Outcomes in Frontline Workers on Duty During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Preliminary Study
by Sara Faria, Sílvia Monteiro Fonseca, António Marques and Cristina Queirós
Healthcare 2025, 13(12), 1434; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13121434 - 16 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2933
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic affected frontline workers’ mental health, including healthcare workers, firefighters, and police officers, increasing the need for effective interventions. This study focuses on the pandemic’s psychological impact, perceived stress, depression/anxiety symptoms, and resilience, examining if a brief virtual reality [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic affected frontline workers’ mental health, including healthcare workers, firefighters, and police officers, increasing the need for effective interventions. This study focuses on the pandemic’s psychological impact, perceived stress, depression/anxiety symptoms, and resilience, examining if a brief virtual reality (VR)–based relaxation session could reduce psychological symptoms. Methods: In this preliminary study with data collected in 2025 from frontline workers who had served during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, 54 frontline workers completed a baseline assessment of the perceived psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic, general perceived well-being, perceived stress (PSS-4), anxiety/depression (PHQ-4) and resilience (RS-25). Each participant then engaged in a 10-min immersive VR relaxation session featuring a calming 360° nature environment with audio guidance, after which questionnaires were re-administered. Paired samples t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVA evaluated pre-/post-session differences, and a hierarchical multiple linear regression model tested predictors of the change in stress. Results: Pre-session results showed moderate perceived stress and resilience and low depression/anxiety. Occupation groups varied in baseline stress, mostly reporting negative pandemic psychological effects. After VR, significantly perceived well-being increased, and stress decreased, whereas depression/anxiety changes were nonsignificant. Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a main effect of time on stress (p = 0.003) without occupation-by-time interaction (p = 0.246), indicating all occupational groups benefited similarly from the VR session. Hierarchical regression indicated baseline depression and higher perceived pandemic-related harm independently predicted greater stress reduction, whereas resilience and baseline anxiety showed no statistically significant results. Conclusions: A single VR relaxation session lowered perceived stress among frontline workers, particularly those reporting higher baseline depression or pandemic-related burden. Limitations include the absence of a control group. Results support VR-based interventions as feasible, rapidly deployable tools for high-stress settings. Future research should assess longer-term outcomes, compare VR to alternative interventions, and consider multi-session protocols. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Depression, Anxiety and Emotional Problems Among Healthcare Workers)
17 pages, 543 KB  
Article
Nurturing Resilience and Healing from Within: The Impact of an 8-Week Yoga Program on Nursing Students
by Beverley Martin, Blake Peck, Andy Davies and Daniel Terry
Healthcare 2025, 13(7), 767; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13070767 - 30 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1977
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Nursing students encounter significant stress due to the demanding nature of their academic and clinical training, negatively impacting their mental health and overall wellbeing. Self-care strategies, such as yoga, have been suggested to effectively manage stress and promote resilience. Despite the growing [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Nursing students encounter significant stress due to the demanding nature of their academic and clinical training, negatively impacting their mental health and overall wellbeing. Self-care strategies, such as yoga, have been suggested to effectively manage stress and promote resilience. Despite the growing recognition of the importance of self-care in nursing education, there is limited research on the specific benefits of yoga. This study aimed to explore the experiences and perceived benefits associated with undergraduate nursing students’ participation in an 8-week yoga study. Methods: A qualitative study using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach was conducted. Participants were Baccalaureate nursing students from an Australian university. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Reporting methods followed the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research guidelines. Results: Among the 14 students who participated, three main themes emerged: “Me Time”, highlighting the importance of prioritising self-care; “Slowing Down,” emphasising the psychological benefits of yoga; and “Self-Acceptance,” reflecting personal growth and improved self-awareness. Participants reported reduced stress, improved mood, and enhanced physical and mental wellbeing. Conclusion: Students who participated in yoga were positively impacted through greater stress management and wellbeing. As nursing students transition into the workplace, the ability to manage stress and maintain mental wellbeing becomes even more critical. The high-pressure environment of healthcare settings can exacerbate stress, leading to burnout and decreased job satisfaction. By incorporating self-care practices such as yoga into their routine, nursing students can develop resilience and coping mechanisms that will benefit them as students and throughout their careers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Depression, Anxiety and Emotional Problems Among Healthcare Workers)
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14 pages, 948 KB  
Article
Stress as a Risk Factor for Informal Caregiver Burden
by Elena Cejalvo, Manuel Martí-Vilar, Júlia Gisbert-Pérez and Laura Badenes-Ribera
Healthcare 2025, 13(7), 731; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13070731 - 26 Mar 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4266
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Informal caregivers, who provide essential support to dependent family members, often face high levels of stress and mental health problems due to the physical and emotional demands of the role. This study examined the connections between anxiety, depression, stress, and caregiver burden [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Informal caregivers, who provide essential support to dependent family members, often face high levels of stress and mental health problems due to the physical and emotional demands of the role. This study examined the connections between anxiety, depression, stress, and caregiver burden in informal caregivers. Methods: A total of 344 informal caregivers from the Valencian Community, selected by incidental sampling, took part. A total of 58.7% were female (n = 202) with a mean age of 46.37 years (SD = 14.79), while 41.3% were male (n = 142) with a mean age of 46.37 years (SD = 14.78). This study used the DASS-21 and the Zarit Burden Questionnaire. Data analysis was by structural equation modeling with latent factors. Results: The principal findings indicated that anxiety and depression were predictive factors for stress (p = 0.006, p = 0.002 respectively), while stress, in turn, was associated with a higher caregiver burden (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Anxiety and depression indirectly heighten caregiver burden through increased stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Depression, Anxiety and Emotional Problems Among Healthcare Workers)
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