Through its Wellbeing First Champion Challenge Program, ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare, a national coalition led by the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, has improved access to mental health care for more than two million healthcare workers nationwide. As Suicide Prevention Month comes to an end, we recognize that U.S. healthcare workers have an 18% higher risk of dying from suicide than the general population, highlighting the importance of initiatives like this to enhance how health systems support providers’ mental health.
Some of the program’s achievements include:
- A rise in medical licensure boards (29 to 40), nurse licensure boards (4 to 6), and dental licensure boards (1 to 5).
- Two states – Idaho and Pennsylvania – have become Wellbeing First Champions across all four professions.
- 1,850 health systems, hospitals, medical centers, clinics and other care facilities have been recognized as Wellbeing First Champions, a 393% increase from last year.
“Our collective progress is proof change is possible, and this movement is only getting started in breaking down these barriers, empowering our care teams and building a future where a healthy workforce is no longer a goal – it is a reality,” said Corey Feist, co-founder and CEO of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation. To continue providing high quality patient care, healthcare workers must have access to mental health support in the workplace without fear of professional repercussions, and these achievements are a step in the right direction.
The Healthcare Workforce Coalition encourages Congress to pass the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 266/H.R. 929) to support impactful efforts like these.
To read the Foundation’s press release, CLICK HERE.