In This Story
As cornerstones to public health and a healthy community, health care professionals provide key services to individuals and populations to ensure their health and well-being. However, they may not always have the same resources to support their own mental health. Health care professionals experience higher rates of work-related burnout than other professions because of the high stress of their work environment and lack of support in the workplace. The COVID-19 pandemic shined a spotlight on the burnout crisis: 46% of health care workers reported feeling burned out on a regular basis and 44% of health care workers intended to quit their job in 2022, according to a Center for Disease Control survey.
George Mason University College of Public Health’s ThriveWell program combats this growing issue in health care by providing professionals with the tools they need to manage stress and cope with the emotional demands of their work. ThriveWell is one of multiple training programs offered as part of George Mason’s Health and Public Safety Workforce Resiliency Program.
“ThriveWell provides free well-being and resiliency training to anyone in the health care workforce. It’s essential that we support and care for our health care professionals to ensure they can continue to provide the best care for us,” said Leslie Wilcox, ThriveWell program manager, who developed the program alongside director of the Health and Public Safety Workforce Resiliency Program Debora Goldberg.
Informed by the success of a similar undergraduate program at George Mason, ThriveWell focuses on topics such as trauma and building resilience in the workplace.
“Our goal was to develop an interprofessional initiative that would benefit students, faculty, and health care professionals alike,” said Goldberg, a professor in the Department of Health Administration and Policy. “ThriveWell is great for those just entering the health care workforce and for those who have been on the frontline of healthcare delivery for a long time. Everyone can benefit from the skills and mental health training in this program. Taking care of yourself is the best way to continue to be able to take care of others.”
ThriveWell has found success among its pilot group and stakeholders who entered the program, Wilcox reports. Participants found the program useful and applicable in high-stress situations they experience daily, both in and out of the workplace. They also valued how the program emphasized self-reflection through its modalities and structure.
Funded by the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA), the online modules are free and self-paced, allowing for greater flexibility in completing the program. Learning is reinforced through actively journalling throughout the program, engaging in reflective questions at the end of each module, and applying their knowledge through examining relevant case studies. Health care professionals receive a micro-credential and vital professional development upon completion of the program.
To learn more, visit the Center for Health Workforce website or contact Leslie Wilcox at lwilcox2@gmu.edu.