Mental Health Disorders Among Allied Health Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Prevalence and Types

Abstract

Background: Allied health professionals are exposed to high levels of stress and demands, which predispose them to mental health disorders. Understanding the prevalence and types of these disorders is crucial for developing effective support systems to enhance both their well-being and patient care quality.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and types of mental health disorders among allied health professionals, identifying potential risk factors impacting their mental well-being.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 110 allied health professionals using three standardized questionnaires: the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7). Participants were recruited using stratified random sampling to represent a range of specializations and geographic areas. Data were collected at baseline and after a three-month period to evaluate changes in mental health status. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and regression analysis to identify significant predictors of mental health outcomes.

Results: The initial assessment showed average scores of 15.2 (SD=3.6) for GHQ-12, 9.8 (SD=2.1) for PHQ-9, and 10.5 (SD=3.2) for GAD-7. At the three-month follow-up, these scores decreased to 14.1 (SD=3.8), 8.7 (SD=2.3), and 9.3 (SD=3.5), respectively, with statistical significance (p-values of 0.045 for GHQ-12, 0.033 for PHQ-9, and 0.028 for GAD-7).

Conclusion: The study demonstrated a significant reduction in symptoms of mental health disorders among allied health professionals over the study period. These findings suggest that targeted interventions and continued support can effectively enhance the mental health of this critical workforce.