An Ongoing Surveillance and Knowledge Mobilization Plan
The Healthcare Salute project is designed to support the mental health and well-being needs of Canadian healthcare workers serving throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. By utilizing healthcare providers’ experiences, this project will develop evidence-based resources for affected and at-risk healthcare workers.
The COVID-19 pandemic increased rates of mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress (PTS), and moral injury amongst healthcare providers (HCPs). Healthcare Salute has been contributing to emerging research by studying the unique experiences, mental health, and wellbeing impacts of COVID-19 on Canadian HCPs. This project has also identified risk and resiliency factors contributing to the development of psychological injury (e.g., depression, anxiety, etc.), moral injury, decreased daily function, and thoughts of leaving the workplace.
The results of this study will provide foundational information for the creation of appropriate and effective tools for HCPs and their supporters. These tools will allow individuals to recognize the known mental health outcomes of working as providers during the pandemic — as well as how and when to find support.
Project Resources
These introductory courses are designed to help healthcare providers (HCPs) cope with challenges that have been experienced during the pandemic. Each module is designed to familiarize HCPs with new ideas and provide language that helps describe difficult feelings.
Coping with Moral Injury and Moral Distress
This course covers topics including moral injury (MI), moral distress (MD), grief, and how to progress forward after experiencing MI and MD.
Coping with Stress, Trauma, and PTSI
This resource covers why trauma, PTSIs, and stigma occur and how an individual’s mood, emotions, cognitions, problem solving ability, social relationships, and physical health can be impacted.
An Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care
This course provides practical guidelines to help increase the competency and awareness of healthcare providers (HCPs) who wish to engage in trauma-informed care. This information is applicable to patients and other HCPs who may have experienced trauma.
Mental Health Assessment Tool
The Mental Health Continuum Model provides a self-assessment tool to gauge mental health levels. Helpful resources are provided after the assessment is complete.
Organization Recommendations
This module contains recommendations and strategies for healthcare organizations to foster positive change within their sector.
Stories of COVID’s Hidden Crisis
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Healthcare Salute conducted their initial research project “COVID-19-Related Stress, Moral Injury, and Minority Stress in Healthcare Workers and Public Safety Personnel in Canada.” The struggles, heartbreak, courage, and resilience of healthcare providers (HCPs) inspired Healthcare Salute to build on their research. In 2023, the National Interview Series began sharing the stories of HCPs with the wider public to raise awareness of COVID’s hidden crisis.
Tracey
Intensive Care Nurse
“We need to fix some of the fundamental flaws in our system that is absolutely crumbling. Now.”
Factsheets for Healthcare Providers
Access factsheets made for healthcare providers.
Virtual Events
Access Healthcare Salutes virtual events to hear directly from frontline workers and researchers.
Past Symposium's
These are 2-hour events
Symposium 1: COVID’s Hidden Crisis
Researchers present the impact of moral injury and moral distress on both Canadian and global healthcare providers and how they are studying risk and mitigation factors. Healthcare providers share their thoughts and experiences during a panel discussion.
Symposium 2: The Path Toward Recovery
This symposium highlights the firsthand experiences of healthcare providers during COVID-19 and how researchers are using the ACT Matrix and other methods to investigate risk and resiliency among HCPs.
Past Town Hall's
These are 1-hour events
Town Hall 1: Everybody Hurts
Researchers provide a brief overview of moral injury and moral distress, share early research findings, and have a panel discussion about the pandemic’s effects on healthcare providers.
Town Hall 2: Work Life, Home Life
Healthcare providers and researchers discuss the impact of healthcare providers’ role on family and interpersonal relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Town Hall 3: Finding our Footing
This town hall discusses how healthcare providers are coping with the stresses of COVID-19 with stories from healthcare providers and insights from mental health researchers.
Healthcare Salute Snapshots
Get a snapshot of Healthcare Salute’s first year of findings.
Connect with Healthcare Salute
Project Team
Dr. Margaret McKinnon — Principal investigator, Trauma & Recovery Research Unit, McMaster University
Dr. Andrea Brown — Research Associate, Trauma & Recovery Research Unit, McMaster University
Andrea D’Alessandro-Lowe — Graduate Student (PhD), McMaster University
Christina Chrysler — Clinical Research Lead, Trauma & Recovery Research Unit, McMaster University
Dana Waldern — Administrative Assistant, Trauma & Recovery Research Unit, McMaster University
Emily Sullo — Research Assistant (MMASc), Trauma & Recovery Research Unit, McMaster University
Dr. Kim Ritchie — Research Associate, Homewood Research Institute
Mauda Karram — Clinical Research Assistant, Trauma & Recovery Research Unit, McMaster University
Mina Pichtikova — Clinical Research Coordinator, Trauma & Recovery Research Unit, McMaster University
Sangita Singh — Clinical Research Coordinator, Trauma & Recovery Research Unit, McMaster University
Dr. Senay Asma — Research Associate, Trauma & Recovery Research Unit, McMaster University
Sherain Harricharan — Graduate Student (PhD), McMaster University
Sophia Roth — Graduate Student (PhD), McMaster University
Yuanxin Xue — Research Assistant, Trauma & Research Recovery Unit, McMaster University
Additional support from external researchers and professionals:
Dr. Alexandra Heber — LCol (Ret’d) Dr Alexandra Heber MD FRCPC CCPE; Chief of Psychiatry for Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC); Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University; Co-Chair of the Canadian Military Sexual Trauma Community of Practice
Charlene O’Connor — Senior Manager of Research and Innovation, Homewood Research Institute
Dr. Dayna-Lee Baggley — Registered Clinical Psychologist; Director, Dr. Lee-Baggley and Associates
Dr. Hygge Schielke — Trauma Services Development Lead, Homewood Health Centre
Dr. Jaimie Lusk — Clinical Psychologist; Professor, Oregon Health Sciences University
Dr. Jenna Boyd — Staff Psychologist, Anxiety Treatment and Research Clinic, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
Dr. Lorraine Smith-MacDonald — Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Alberta
Dr. Nicholas Carleton — Professor of Clinical Psychology; Registered Clinical Psychologist; Scientific Director, Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment
Dr. Randi McCabe — Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University; Registered Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Suzette Brémault-Phillips — Occupational Therapist; Professor, University of Alberta
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