Washington, D.C. — The American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF) is pleased to announce the launch of new resources from Frontline Connect, an initiative designed to increase access to mental healthcare for frontline healthcare workers. The mental health of this essential workforce often takes a back seat to the well-being of their patients, colleagues, and families. Frontline healthcare workers are experiencing unprecedented levels of burnout, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns, and their capacity is stretched thin. Yet, many cannot access the mental health services they need. Sixty percent of healthcare workers said the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted their mental health. In 2021, one in three healthcare workers either received mental health services or thought services were needed but did not seek out care.
Frontline Connect is a resource from APAF’s Center for Workplace Mental Health that provides hospital and health system leadership with high-impact tools for overcoming barriers to mental healthcare. Each of the innovations and interventions highlighted in the new toolkit are successfully in operation at various pilot institutions, and many require little to no additional financial resources.
Made possible by the Brave of Heart Fund, Frontline Connect includes resources on peer support, Employee Assistance programs, reforming licensure and credentialing questions, manager training, and much more. The new video toolkit includes conversations with several leaders in the field of healthcare workers’ mental well-being. Expert interviewees include the inaugural Chief Wellness Officer at the University of Michigan School of Medicine, Kirk Brower, M.D., and the President and co-founder of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, J. Corey Feist, J.D., M.B.A.
"Nearly 15% of U.S. workers are in the healthcare industry. This means that tens of millions of our neighbors and community members may be in need of mental health support while they are charged with providing care to others, and they may not be receiving the care they need,” said Rawle Andrews, Jr., Esq., the Executive Director of APAF. “We are proud that our Center for Workplace Mental Health, through its Frontline Connect initiative, is meeting the needs of these critical health professionals so they are better equipped to serve patients."
To learn more about Frontline Connect and the new toolkit, visit frontlineconnect.org.