Helping the helpers - EFPA participates in WHO initiative on workplace mental health for health workers

August 2024, Helsinki Finland - The WHO Helping the Helpers event, hosted by the Finnish government, was held in Helsinki, Finland on 28-29 August 2024 (1). EFPA was invited to attend as part of the organisation's membership of the WHO Pan-European Mental Health Coalition.

The event focused, within a general recognition of the importance of workplace mental health, specifically on the wellbeing of those who themselves care for others. These roles can involve experiencing, and supporting those who are experiencing, trauma. Some specific sub-themes focused on: the importance of systems rather than just individual resilience; the importance of good data; questions of gender and equality; and consideration of moral injury in the context of workplace ethics.

In response to the health workforce crisis in the region, highlighted in the report “Health and care workforce in Europe: time to act” (2), in October 2023 European Member States unanimously adopted the new "Framework for Action on the Health and Care Workforce in the WHO European Region 2023–2030" (3).

The Framework builds on the Bucharest Declaration (4) adopted in March 2023. It calls for urgent action to address the health workforce crisis across 5 pillars of action. Implementing comprehensive policies to retain health workers and attract health professionals by improving working conditions and supporting mental health and well-being are at the core of the Framework.

The event's theme intersects a number of areas that are of strategic importance to EFPA, and the subject of working group activity, including the workplace, mental health and the development of the profession of psychology. The meeting brought together health and care professionals and experts from Finland and across the WHO European Region, harnessing their expertise to further the development and implementation of policy initiatives to support the mental health of the health and care workforce. EFPA will continue to engage in this work-stream as next steps are progressed.

1 - https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/events/item/2024/08/28/default-calendar/helping-the-helpers--current-challenges-and-solutions-to-mental-health-of-the-health-and-care-workforce

2- https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289058339

3- https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/EUR-RC73-R1

4 - https://www.who.int/.../publ.../i/item/bucharest-declaration

 

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