Concern for the mental health and well-being of healthcare workers was building long before the COVID-19 pandemic. For years physicians have been at greater risk for suicide and suicidal ideation than the general public. The occupational risk of burnout is high among all healthcare workers, and if not addressed in a timely manner, can evolve into mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. In addition to burnout, there are additional factors that may contribute to a decline in the mental health of a clinician, such as fatigue, moral injury, PTSD, and sometimes even substance misuse.
Hospital and health system leaders are aware of the issues affecting the mental health of their workforce and know that quality of life, patient care, and outcomes would greatly improve with intervention. However, it’s not always clear where to start. Through insights shared by experts, convenings, and many interviews, the Frontline Connect team was able to pinpoint the most prominent barriers to accessing mental health care, and highlight existing, innovative practices that address each. 
- Fear and Shame
- Suicide Prevention, Intervention, Postvention
- Licensure & Credentialing
- Internal Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- External Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Coaching
- Physician Health Programs (PHPs)
- Peer Support Programs
- Clinician Cultural Competency Training
- Manager Training
- Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
- A Call to Action for the C-Suite
The purpose of the Frontline Connect Toolkit is to elevate the institutions with innovative interventions on increasing access to mental health care for frontline healthcare workers. Each program that is highlighted within this toolkit is in operation and yielding successful results. This toolkit distills the learnings from expert interviews found in the video library and can serve as a road map to address barriers and beyond. Leaders like you can move the concept of a mentally healthy workforce from ideas to action.
The Center for Workplace Mental Health (CWMH), a program of the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, provides employers with high-impact tools, resources, and training to effectively address the mental health and well-being of employees and their families and provides actionable steps to creating a mentally healthy workplace. Through the Brave of Heart Fund, the Center created the initiative, Frontline Connect: Mental Health for the Healthcare Workforce.
Frontline Connect is focused on improving access to mental health care for frontline clinicians. Through convenings, roundtable discussions, and interviews with expert leaders from hospitals, health systems, and like-minded organizations, this multimedia toolkit, which includes a video library, highlights best practices and innovative strategies that have led to an increase in access to mental health care for nationally recognized institutions.
Frontline Connect was led by Gaurava Agarwal, MD, VP & Chief Wellness Executive Northwestern Medicine, and VITAL WorkLife Peer Coach and Advisory Council member.
