Mental Health of Dental Hygienists in Canada: Insights from the HPW Partnership Study
The Healthy Professional Worker (HPW) Partnership study is a national research initiative conducted across Canada in
collaboration with key industry and professional organizations. This study explored the mental health and well-being of
professionals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originally, the study focused on several professions, including:
- Academia
- Accounting
- Dentistry
- Medicine
- Midwifery
- Nursing
- Teaching
Inclusion of Dental Hygienists in the HPW Study
Through a strategic collaboration between the HPW Partnership and the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA),
dental hygienists were included in a specialized subset of the study. This addition provided valuable insights into the
mental health challenges faced by dental hygienists in Canada during the pandemic.
Key Findings on Dental Hygienists’ Mental Health
The results, available in the CDHA-commissioned report and infographic, highlight several critical areas:
- Mental health status and burnout rates before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Leave of absence trends: comparison between those who considered taking a leave and those who actually did
- Barriers to taking leave, including systemic and personal challenges
- Intentions to leave the profession or change careers
- Comparative analysis between dental hygienists and other healthcare professionals such as dentists, midwives, and
nurses
Why This Matters
Understanding the mental health of dental hygienists is essential for shaping supportive workplace policies, improving
retention, and promoting overall well-being in the healthcare sector.
Listen to the leaders of the HPW project, Drs. Ivy Bourgeault and Henrietta Akuamoah-Boateng, summarize the
mental health experiences of dental hygienists in the webinar, Pandemic Impact on Mental Health of Dental
Hygienists.
Dental hygiene comparative report:
Healthy Professional
Worker Partnership: Dental Hygiene & Comparative Findings
Dental hygiene Infographic:
Dental Hygiene HPW
Health Professions: Mental Health & COVID-19
All professions comparative report:
Healthy Professional Worker Partnership: Preliminary Comparative Findings