An assessment of psychological distress and professional burnout in mental health professionals in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVE: To examine psychological distress and professional burnout in a cohort of Australian mental healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic METHODS: This study examined a multi-disciplinary cohort of mental healthcare workers in a large metropolitan service in Australia. Demographic information as well as information on employment and individual’s personal experience of the COVID-19 pandemic was collected and correlated with cross-sectional assessments of anxiety, depression and professional burnout using validated clinical questionnaires RESULTS: Mental healthcare workers reported high levels of anxiety, depression, and professional burnout. Participants reported some reduction in anxiety since the early phases of the pandemic, but the reduction was more modest in mental healthcare workers identifying as being “vulnerable” employees. CONCLUSION: Despite the low numbers of COVID-19 cases, mental healthcare workers in Australia report significant levels of psychological distress and professional burnout during the pandemic.