Reduction of Burnout in VA Mental Health Providers: Beyond Self Care.

Introduction: Mental health care providers are at increased risk for burnout, particularly during times of increased environmental stress. Self-care mobile applications and mindfulness practices have been associated with reduced burnout. Methods: This study examined the impact of COVID Coach (a self-care mobile app) on burnout among mental health care providers during the COVID pandemic. Additionally, two cohorts of mental health care providers were compared; one assessed prior to the pandemic and the other during its peak. Baseline burnout and mindfulness scores were analyzed across both cohorts. Results: During the height of the COVID pandemic in 2021, 43 mental health care providers from a VA medical center participated in a 30-day, pre-post pilot observational study of the COVID Coach mobile app. The majority (80.6%) of participants rated the app as beneficial; however, it was not associated with reductions in provider burnout or compassion fatigue. Regression analyses using baseline data from the two cohorts found significantly higher burnout in the pandemic cohort (b = 14.86, SE = 2.75, p < .001). A hierarchical regression found an interaction effect between mindfulness, burnout, and cohort, indicating that mindfulness (specifically, the ability to describe mindfully) was associated with reduced burnout in the pre-pandemic cohort, but not for the pandemic cohort (b = 4.52, SE = 1.65, p < .01). Discussion: Findings are preliminary but suggest that while mindfulness may be helpful in reducing mild levels of burnout, it may not be as beneficial in reducing more elevated burnout levels. Interventions beyond individual self-care may be needed to address higher levels of burnout during times of heightened stress.