What is it about?
More than 15% of local public health workers experienced harassment during the pandemic. Those who indicated they experienced harassment reported poorer mental or emotional health than those not experiencing harassment. They also had a higher risk of resigning from their current job at a local health department or of exiting the public health workforce altogether.
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Why is it important?
While COVID-19 escalated experiences of harassment among local public health workers, training that teaches practical ways to respond to harassment and cope with the associated stressors may mitigate negative mental health impacts. In addition, protections from varied federal, state, and local entities can help mitigate threats. Lastly, long-term and flexible federal funding specific to local health departments can build a resilient workforce prepared for future emergencies.
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Role of Harassment in the Mental Well-being of Local Public Health Professionals and Its Relationship With an Intent to Leave Their Organization During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, October 2022, Wolters Kluwer Health,
DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000001655.
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Resources
About the 2021 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey
This webpage describes the background and methods of the 2021 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS).
The Editor's Podcast: Harassment and the Mental Well-being of Local Public Health Professionals
This podcast episode features author Tim McCall, discussing his research on the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on the public health workforce.
The Measure of Everyday Life: Bullying of Public Health Workers
On this public radio program episode, hosts spoke with authors Tim McCall and Aaron Alford about their research on experiences of harassment among public health professionals.
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