The systematic review serves as a keen lens into the psyche of health and social care professionals, highlighting their often unacknowledged struggles. Health professionals are prone to burnout, emotional exhaustion, and stress, which can ultimately lead to a decline in their ability to provide quality care. The review draws on various studies to illuminate how these professionals often perceive a need for psychosocial support but frequently hesitate to seek help. The paradox lies in their understanding of mental health care while simultaneously feeling an overwhelming sense of stigma and self-doubt when considering their own needs.

Moreover, the systematic review emphasizes the significant negative impacts of unresolved psychological distress among healthcare workers, pointing out that it not only affects their own well-being but also the quality of care that they deliver to patients. This complex cycle of stress and underutilized support resources highlights an urgent need for systemic change within healthcare organizations. The expectation that healthcare professionals should always be the caregivers, without addressing their mental health needs, is not sustainable and deserves critical examination.

The research also identifies barriers that hinder these professionals from seeking necessary psychological support. Stigma remains one of the primary obstacles, fueled by a culture that often equates asking for help with weakness. In many cases, health and social care environments foster a competitive atmosphere where expressing vulnerability may be perceived negatively. This is compounded by fears related to confidentiality and job security that can emerge when professionals step forward seeking help. Consequently, those who do need support may resort to coping mechanisms that are detrimental not only to themselves but also to their colleagues and the patients under their care.

On a broader scale, the shortage of mental health resources tailored to the unique experiences of healthcare professionals amplifies their struggles. Many traditional mental health services fail to address the specific pressures embedded within these professions. As they are trained to invest their emotional labor in others, the nuances of their own psychological needs frequently go unattended. Effective intervention strategies should take this into account, recognizing that what works for the general population may not be suitable for those engaged in high-stress healthcare settings.

Empirical evidence presented in this review elucidates the urgent demand for tailored support structures. When health and social care professionals receive access to appropriate psychosocial support systems, the results can be transformative. Improved mental health not only benefits the professionals themselves but can also enhance patient outcomes significantly. A happier, more supported workforce offers more empathetic care, fosters better patient relationships, and encourages a collaborative team environment that ultimately leads to holistic patient recovery.

The systematic review also opens the door for advocating for policy changes that underscore the importance of mental well-being in the workplace. Organizations can implement training sessions to reduce stigma and cultivate an understanding of the necessity for psychological health. This could involve creating a culture of openness where seeking help is normalized and encouraged. In addition, leadership programs can be introduced that prioritize the mental health of staff, ensuring that support mechanisms are embedded within the organizational framework.

Training and resources aimed specifically at helping health and social care professionals manage their emotional concerns are imperative. By integrating mental health training into existing health education programs, future generations of healthcare workers can be better prepared to recognize not only the signs of mental distress in their patients but also in themselves. There’s merit in normalizing conversations around mental health, making it part of the regular discourse in healthcare settings, thus fostering an environment where individuals feel safe to voice their experiences and seek assistance.

In summary, Kuosmanen and colleagues’ systematic review highlights a critical need for increased awareness regarding the mental health challenges faced by healthcare professionals. It serves as a clarion call for institutions to take action in addressing the stigma surrounding mental health and creating an infrastructure that supports mental well-being. As the healthcare landscape evolves, prioritizing the psychological needs of those who dedicate their lives to caring for others will not only enhance the experience for healthcare workers but also improve the overall quality of care in healthcare settings.

The impact of unresolved psychological distress among health and social care professionals cannot be overstated. As recommended, more comprehensive support initiatives, including counseling services and peer support networks, should be made readily available. Policymakers should consider this urgent issue that affects the efficiency and efficacy of healthcare delivery across the globe. There’s an ethical imperative to ensure that those who devote their careers to healing have the necessary resources to maintain their mental well-being.

In conclusion, the pathway toward a healthier work culture within the healthcare sector begins with recognizing that even the healers need healing. By allowing a paradigm shift that values mental health on par with physical health, the healthcare profession can thrive in an environment that fosters resilience, understanding, and support. The research conducted by Kuosmanen, Jääskeläinen, and Torkki could be a foundational shift that informs future endeavors to bridge the gap between professional wellness and patient care.

Subject of Research: The perceived need and help-seeking for psychosocial support among health and social care professionals.

Article Title: Perceived need and help-seeking for psychosocial support among health and social care professionals: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Article References:

Kuosmanen, O., Jääskeläinen, E., Torkki, P. et al. Perceived need and help-seeking for psychosocial support among health and social care professionals: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BMC Health Serv Res 25, 1455 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13214-6

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13214-6

Keywords: Mental health, healthcare professionals, psychosocial support, help-seeking behavior, systematic review, stigma, organizational change, training, emotional well-being.

Everyone wants good quality healthcare, but what exactly is quality and how do you measure it?

Is it to do with the waiting time for home care services? Or how many nursing home residents have had medical supervision in the past year? Or whether the medication lists have been checked recently?

“These are important aspects that are all worth monitoring. The problem is that quality cannot be easily reduced to a quantifiable value,”said Randi Olsson Haave, an assistant professor and PhD research fellow at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Gjøvik.

“See me as a person”

Haave is in the process of completing a PhD on quality in municipal health and care services in Norway, and the methods used to monitor it.

“What particularly stands out in my research is how much being seen and treated as a person impacts the experience of quality,” she explained.

Or as one nursing home resident expressed it in one of Haave’s research interviews:

“Please, stroke my cheek – see me as a person. I think it is really important. It almost brings tears to my eyes when I talk about it, because it means so much. If the [caregiver] comes in stressed, it makes me ten times more stressed. I immediately feel my oxygen intake drop. There is something about a person who sees you, the energy they give you. It means so much when you have breathing problems, like I do.”

Haave explains that many of the users and residents she interviewed emphasized the importance of interpersonal relationships.

“It could be staff who were good at giving them their attention and creating good moments, or staff who were open and showed understanding. These moments helped them feel safe and cope with everyday life,” said the researcher.

One resident Haave interviewed compared it to a kind of medicine:

“There are some [caregivers] here who are like rays of sunshine. It is like being given a magic pill every time they walk through the door.”

A lot remains unknown about quality

The starting point for Haave’s research is that a lot remains unknown about the quality of municipal health and care services. This is despite the fact that municipalities have been required to report annually to national authorities on 32 different quality indicators for over ten years.

“On the one hand, there is broad agreement that we need good ways to monitor the quality of healthcare services. On the other hand is the question of how best to do it,” said Haave.

Currently, quality indicators are used to do this. According to the Norwegian Directorate of Health, a quality indicator is an indirect measurement, a pointer, that says something about the quality of the area being measured.

“An example of quality indicators in the municipal health and care services could be the time it takes from a decision on home care services being made to the users receiving the service,” explained Haave.

Still a lot of uncertainty

Haave explains that quality indicators are meant to contribute to transparency regarding the quality of the services provided.

“The results are intended to provide the authorities with a basis for prioritization and should serve as a starting point for improvement work both nationally and locally. They are also intended to provide residents, users and relatives with information about the quality of the services,” said Haave.

There is something about a person who sees you, the energy they give you. It means so much when you have breathing problems, like I do.

“Currently, there is still a great deal of uncertainty about the results, both locally and nationally. This is due to a combination of municipal mergers and different registration practices,” Haave said

As mentioned earlier, Haave’s research also highlights a gap between what the quality indicators measure when it comes to healthcare and what those who receive and provide care actually describe as good care.

Residents, users and relatives should be heard

Far too little is known about how those who receive care and treatment experience them, Haave says.

“None of the quality indicators used today measure the experience of or satisfaction with the care provided. Municipalities are required to gather this knowledge by asking residents, users and their relatives,” said Haave.

Unfortunately, it turns out that many years can pass between each time municipalities collect this type of feedback, and when they do, it often happens through questionnaires that must be either mailed or submitted electronically.

“There are many people who are simply unable to do that. Many need help when answering these questionnaires, and as a result, the response rate is low,” Haave said.

She believes that Norway needs to use other methods to a greater extent in order to document the quality of municipal health and care services.

Greater focus on the actual experience of care

Although the methods for monitoring the quality of health and care services have problematic blind spots, Haave does not believe the solution is to get rid of them.

The nurses and healthcare professionals I have interviewed want us to continue using quality indicators. They say the indicators provide them with important frameworks and goals. But they also emphasize that the indicators fail to provide a sufficiently accurate picture of the quality of the services they provide,” said Haave.

Her recommendation is therefore clear:

“Greater focus must be placed on what the indicators currently fail to measure, namely the actual experience of treatment and care. To achieve this, we must also develop and use other methods to document quality.”

References: Olsson Haave, R., Skinner, M.S., Obstfelder, A. and Melby, L. (2025), ‘See Me as a Person’: A Qualitative Study of Long-Term Care Recipients Perceptions of High-Quality Care. Journal of Clinical Nursing.

Olsson Haave, R., Nakrem, S. and Melby, L. (2024). Healthcare professionals’ experience with nutritional care beyond formal quality systems – A qualitative study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 160, 104860.