Four-year patterns of a mental health support service for employees of a healthcare system delivered by lay professionals

OBJECTIVES: To understand how and when mental health programs can best address healthcare workers' needs as the COVID-19 pandemic recedes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study using administrative program data (N = 524 unique clients served) to examine variations in use, client presenting concerns, and interventions delivered for a lay mental health program within an academic medical center in Philadelphia between April 2020 and March 2024. RESULTS: Results suggested gradual decline in program utilization over four years; however, rates of referral of clients to professional mental health services remained steady. Clients presented with fewer emotional and social support needs and more cognitive challenges over time. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest the need for nimble programming that can rapidly adjust to the needs of healthcare workers in a changing healthcare landscape. We provide suggestions for adapting programs over time.