B.C. health-care workers at 'breaking point' seeking mental help in growing numbers

The ongoing toxic drug crisis, waves of COVID-19 and other mass casualty events have B.C. healthcare workers pleading for faster access to mental health care as more of them find themselves distressed and despairing.

Warning: This story mentions suicide. A list of resources for those in crisis is included at the end of the article.

Their jobs were stressful to begin with, but the ongoing toxic drug crisis, waves of COVID-19 and other mass casualty events have B.C. healthcare workers pleading for faster access to mental health care as more of them find themselves distressed and despairing.

CTV News has spoken on background with nurses, paramedics, and doctors about their experiences but is only naming those who spoke on behalf of associations due to ongoing concerns about professional repercussions, which are even happening in the wake of a personal crisis. 

“Every physician probably has a story of someone they know who was penalized in some way for seeking health care for mental health, for being honest and courageously seeking help,” said Dr. Anne Nguyen, a consultant in the Doctors of BC’s Physician Health Program. 

The program's confidential help-line has seen a 30 per cent surge in calls since the start of the pandemic. With 1,000 open files at any given time, the program is treating one in 20 of the province’s resident, practicing, or retired doctors. https://www.physicianhealth.com/

“We are aware of several physician suicides in BC in the last 12 months,” said Nguyen, noting that physicians have overtaken dentists as the profession with the highest suicide rate. “When a person dedicates a lot of time, energy and effort to one aspect of life, it's easy to become unbalanced.”

The BC Nurses’ Union says their 48,000 members, who form the single largest association of health-care workers in the province, are waiting months for one-on-one psychological support.