Bill AB-562 was proposed by California Nurses Association in Southern California, who went to assembly member Evan Low for support. Bill AB-562 was introduced by Assembly member Low in February 11, 2021. "This bill would require the director to establish a mental health resiliency program, as specified, to provide mental health services to licensed health care providers who provide or have provided direct care healthcare services to COVID-19 patients," (California Legislative Information, 2021). In a recent study conducted in May of 2020 it was found that one in five healthcare workers were disclosing symptoms of anxiety and depression, almost four in ten healthcare workers were experiencing sleeping difficulties, and studies showed a higher rate of anxiety and depression in female healthcare workers (Pappa, et al., 2020). It was also found that 39% of healthcare workers feel they do not receive adequate emotional support. Every person in this country has been assisted or received services from a healthcare worker once in their life. or (more personally) is related to a healthcare worker. Now, these healthcare workers need extra support whilst trying to work through a global pandemic. We, the Masters of Social Work students of California State University Bakersfield, ask for YOU to support Bill AB-562 to give healthcare workers across America the proper mental health services they deserve, with your signature we will be one step closer to getting this bill passed by congress!

References:

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextC...

Pappa, S., Ntella, V., Giannakas, T., Giannakoulis, V. G., Papoutsi, E., & Katsaounou, P. (2020).Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and insomnia among healthcare workers during theCOVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain, Behavior, andImmunity,88, 901-907. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.026