All healthcare workers, including nurses, face unique challenges due to their demanding workloads. They also face systemic healthcare failures on a daily basis, like inadequate staffing, workplace violence, and a lack of resources. These working conditions contribute to high levels of nursing burnout, and understandably, nurses are struggling with their mental health as a result.

Yet, while 43% of nurses reported feeling burned out in 2023, few seek out mental health support due to the significant stigma they face. Concerns over licensure and how coworkers will perceive them keep some nurses from getting help, which only compounds their mental health struggles over time.  Keep reading to learn three important ways nurses can care for their mental health and why prioritizing self-care is crucial, according to a BetterHelp licensed therapist.

Unique Mental Health Challenges

Nurses in the US today work in a complicated and fractured healthcare system with numerous issues, many of which were only made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, nurses are more exposed to risk due to the hands-on patient care and the close-quarters demands of the bedside nursing role.

The statistics certainly tell a story:

• According to a 2023 Survey by the American Nurses Foundation, 66% of nurses reported feeling stressed, 50% were overwhelmed, and 43% were burnt out

• 8 out of 10 nurses experienced at least one type of workplace violence in the past year

• In 2022, more than 25% of nurses reported they plan on leaving the profession in the next five years

Nurses are increasingly burdened by their workloads and may need help to cope with the traumatizing things they experience at work. Because of the high-stress nature of their jobs and the unique challenges they face, it is essential that nurses proactively care for their mental health. Yet, many do not seek out help.

Mental Health Stigma

David Yadush, LPCC, Senior Clinical Operations Manager at BetterHelp, is an experienced mental health counselor who has worked with many healthcare workers. He believes that nurses face an additional stigma when seeking help: the belief that they cannot properly help others if they sometimes require help themselves.

"There's a pervasive belief that if someone seeks support, they're inherently unable to support others, which is simply not true. This stigma is deeply rooted in the motivations that drive many nurses to the profession—the desire to care for and heal others. This selfless drive often overshadows the need to care for themselves," Yadush says.

Though burnout, stress, and overwhelm are prevalent, according to the American Nurses Foundation Mental Health and Wellness Survey, only 31% of nurses admitted to seeking professional mental health support in the last year.

Three Ways Nurses Can Care for Their Mental Health

It's clear that nurses need robust and consistent mental health support, but what does that look like? How can nurses find these services?

Yudush understands that many issues nurses face are systemic and outside their control. "Nursing shortages and understaffing are constant issues, leading to more work, more patients, continuous education requirements, and extensive administrative tasks." Yet he strongly encourages nurses to prioritize their mental health wherever possible, in whatever way feels right.

According to Yadush, these are the three best ways nurses can prioritize their mental well-being:

1. Talk Therapy

Traditional talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy or mental health therapy, is highly effective at treating a variety of mental health conditions, including those without a formal diagnosis. "The ability to talk with someone can be valuable in any season of life. While trying something new can be anxiety-inducing, remember that therapists are healthcare workers too," Yadush says.

There are many types of talk therapy, and your therapist will work with you to identify the one that best suits your needs and preferences. According to the American Psychiatric Association, 75% of people who entered therapy experienced a benefit, so you can trust that the process works.

Though therapy is a highly effective mental health treatment, it hasn't traditionally been easy to access for nurses and other shift workers. That's why BetterHelp was created: to provide expert mental health services through a convenient and accessible platform. You can get started from the comfort of your own home and try therapy with $50 off your 1st month.

2. Peer-to-Peer Support

Though therapy can be highly effective for nurses, it's not the only type of support available. Many hospitals and other healthcare employers now offer peer support groups for nurses to connect and share their stories with others who truly understand their experiences.

Yadush says, "Talk therapy is incredibly valuable, but it’s not always suitable for everyone at every stage of their life. Nurses should explore their employer's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offerings, which often provide a variety of resources. Peer-based programs are also available nationwide, where individuals who have experienced similar struggles offer support and connection."

3. Self-Care Activities

In addition to mental health supports like therapy and peer support, Yadush says it's important that nurses manage stress and boost their mood in other ways that support their mental and physical health, which are fun and relaxing.

"Self-care activities are highly individual and can include walking, playing with pets, singing in the car, reading, knitting, backpacking, or simply getting a good night's sleep. The key is to engage in something that brings joy and reconnects you with your sense of self."

Pursuing Peace

Yadush encourages nurses to seek out mental health support just as they would encourage their patients to. "Mental health care is healthcare.  Struggling alone-–in silence—affects our ability to participate in our lives fully and authentically. We wouldn't tell someone with a broken leg to walk it off, to leave it alone to heal.  Leaving it untreated leads to further, sometimes irreparable, damage." The same can be true for our mental health.

If you are a nurse dealing with stress and burnout, get started today with $50 off your 1st month through BetterHelp. It’s time to let someone else take care of you.

This article is sponsored by BetterHelp.