Supporting Healthcare Workers Well-Being and Suicide Prevention: The HEAR Program May 2009 – April 2023

Purpose:. To present the first 14 years’ data from 1 academic institution using the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's online Interactive Screening Program (ISP). The ISP probes suicide risk factors in healthcare workers, utilization of mental health services, levels of engagement, and seeks to reduce barriers to help-seeking.Design:. Data from all healthcare system students, medical trainees, physicians, nurses, and staff who completed the ISP's online Stress and Depression Questionnaire between May 1, 2009, and April 30, 2023, were tabulated and analyzed for features related to burnout, depression, suicide risk, treatment, and engagement with program counselors.Results:. 5368 individuals engaged in ISP screening. Findings included 39.9% experiencing depression symptoms, 53.9% symptoms of burnout, and 10% suicidal ideation. In this self-selecting group, medical students reported depression symptoms less than physicians in practice, nurses almost 3 times more than physicians, and females more than males. Suicide risk was indicated by multiple domains of distress, with 49.4% in the highest risk tier. At the time of completing the questionnaire, 13.1% were receiving counseling/therapy. After receiving feedback, more than one-quarter of all participants (27.6%) engaged with the program counselors, with an additional 941 individuals who were not already receiving counseling or therapy accepting referrals to mental health providers.Conclusion:. The unattended high distress levels throughout the healthcare training and workforce demonstrated the need for safe screening and referral, while the level of engagement and referrals generated by the ISP attested to its effectiveness.