- Heejoo Smith
- Spring 2026
Abstract
Background
Healthcare workers face significant occupational stress from high workloads, emotional demands, and staffing shortages, which can lead to burnout and compromised well-being. This stress adversely affects patient care, safety, satisfaction, and staff retention rate (Jun et al., 2021; Aust et al., 2024). Interventions such as mental health education, resilience training, and organizational support show promise but are constrained by persistent barriers, including stigma and resource constraints (Benavides-Gil et al., 2024; Larsson et al., 2025; Anger et al., 2024).
Purpose
This project aims to examine evidence-based strategies to promote mental health awareness, stress management, and burnout prevention among healthcare workers.
Methods
A literature review was conducted to synthesize current evidence from peer-reviewed studies published within the past five years. CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycINFO databases were searched using keywords relevant to mental health interventions, stress management, burnout, resilience, nurses, and healthcare workers. Informal interviews and discussions were conducted with key stakeholders to gain perspectives on workplace stressors, barriers to support, and feasible wellness interventions. Participation in a workplace in-service meeting and mental health coaching session focused on staff well-being and burnout prevention provided additional insight into current organizational support strategies.
Discussion
Evidence shows that healthcare organizations should integrate interventions at both the individual and organizational levels. Mindfulness, stress-management education, and resilience training, combined with organizational-level peer-support programs, leadership involvement, and supportive policies, can help address burnout and promote psychological safety (Anger et al., 2024; Aust et al., 2024; Jun et al., 2021). Aligning organizational culture with these efforts addresses the root causes of stress, thereby improving workforce resilience and patient outcomes.
