Solving Wellness: An Initiative to Enhance Canadian Healthcare Provider Wellness

Given the high incidence of burnout, depression, and suicidal ideation among Canadian healthcare providers (HCPs), there is an urgent need to support wellness through strengthening peer networks and engaging key stakeholders. This project will explore the capacity of digital tools to educate HCPs and enable them to support their mental health. The investigators will evaluate specific research questions: Are HCPs more aware of their wellness needs? Did burnout and stress decrease? Do HCPs feel more supported by their peers? The overarching objective is to contribute towards a culture prioritizing HCP wellbeing. The investigators hope to achieve this through two outcome-oriented objectives: 1) to create resources to promote HCP wellbeing and 2) to foster a web-based HCP community. This initiative integrates big data tools, interactive online content, and the Solving Healthcare podcast to improve HCP wellness. It is anticipated that HCPs will become more aware of their wellness needs, and once they are able to identify strategies to live healthier work lives, cultural changes will take place, leading to a new attitude surrounding HCP mental health. To complete these objectives, resources will be drawn from the HELP-MD physician database and an advisory circle, and will be disseminated via a web platform and the widely known Solving Healthcare podcast. The project's significance stems from the changes it will incite in both individuals and health care institutions, inspiring long term changes in workplace culture and teaching the next generation that a balanced work life is attainable.