Workplace COVID-19 Protection Linked to Better Mental Health

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic brought about higher levels of anxiety and depression worldwide, especially among frontline workers who could not stay home to protect themselves. However, a study from Canadian scientists found that essential workers have better mental health when employers have COVID-19 protection protocols in place, Journal of Commerce reports.

The study, conducted by scientists at the Institute for Work and Health (IWH) and the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), gathered the results of online surveys from more than 3,799 respondents working in the services, construction, manufacturing, education, and government sectors. The scientists wanted to understand how the level of infection control procedures in the workplace and the adequacy of personal protective equipment (PPE) are related to symptoms of anxiety and depression among essential workers, compared to those who work remotely or who have lost their jobs.

Among the site-based, essential workers:

• Those who had infection control procedures and PPE requirements being met, 29.8% had symptoms of anxiety and 23% reported depressive symptoms
• Those who reported having none of the needs met, 52.3% had symptoms of anxiety and 45.8% had depressive symptoms.

Survey respondents who worked remotely had fewer symptoms with 35.4%, reporting anxiety and 27.5% reporting depression. In comparison, 43.5% of site-based workers overall reported anxiety and 34.7% reported depression.

Among respondents who lost their jobs, 44.1% had anxiety and 35.9% had depression.

“We always need to protect workers. Nobody wants to get injured or feel unsafe in the workplace. What the current pandemic has done is highlighted some of the challenges that workers face,” said Peter Smith, MD, lead author of the study and senior scientists at IWH. “We do need to work on making sure those workers feel adequately protected.”