Among respondents to a Mental Health America study of healthcare workers from June to September 2020, 93% experienced stress, 86% experienced anxiety, 77% experienced frustration, 76% reported exhaustion and burnout, and 75% said they felt overwhelmed. To help healthcare workers get easier access to mental health resources, H.R. 1667, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, was proposed. The bill was introduced in March 2021 and on March 18, 2022, was signed by President Biden as Public Law No. 117-105. The goal of the act is to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions among healthcare professionals, according to the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation. The act establishes grants for suicide and burnout prevention training in healthcare professionals, and seeks to identify and disseminate evidence-informed best practices for reducing and preventing suicide and burnout among healthcare professionals, training them in appropriate strategies, and promoting their mental and behavioral health. In addition, the act establishes a national evidence-based education and awareness campaign to encourage healthcare professionals to seek support and treatment for mental and behavioral health concerns, and establishes a comprehensive study on healthcare professional mental and behavioral health and burnout, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these workers' health.
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