Mental Health of Healthcare Workers After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Risk Factors, Mechanisms, and Prevention Efforts in the Workplace: A Literature Review

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a long-term impact on the mental health of healthcare workers, including increased stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. These conditions have continued in the post-pandemic era and have the potential to reduce the quality of healthcare services. This study aims to identify effective mental health prevention strategies for healthcare workers after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study used a literature review approach by examining 29 scientific articles published between 2015 and 2025 from the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. The inclusion criteria included articles discussing the mental health of healthcare workers after the pandemic and prevention strategies. The analysis was conducted using a thematic approach to group interventions into individual, institutional, and public policy categories. The results of the analysis show that the most effective prevention strategies include structured psychological support, mindfulness-based stress management training, and the implementation of a peer support system. In addition, institutional interventions such as adjusting working hours, strengthening a culture of empathy, and anti-stigma policies towards mental disorders have been shown to contribute positively to the psychological well-being of medical personnel. Preventing mental disorders among healthcare workers after the COVID-19 pandemic requires a multidimensional approach involving individuals, institutions, and public policy. Continuous support and cross-sector collaboration are key to strengthening the resilience of healthcare workers and maintaining the quality of medical services during recovery.