Mental Health Challenges and Resilience among Frontline Workers: A Mini Review
Authors
Faculty of Psychology and Social Work, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (Malaysia)
Faculty of Psychology and Social Work, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (Malaysia)
Faculty of Psychology and Social Work, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (Malaysia)
Article Information
Publication Timeline
Submitted: 2025-11-10
Accepted: 2025-11-16
Published: 2025-11-26
Abstract
This mini review examines the mental health challenges and resilience mechanisms among frontline workers. This includes healthcare professionals, emergency responders, and essential service providers, who face heightened psychological risks due to prolonged exposure to high-stress and crisis environments. The objective is to synthesize recent evidence on coping strategies, resilience factors, and mental health issues, while identifying key gaps and potential directions for intervention and research. Accordingly, a comprehensive literature search was conducted in the Scopus database on 27 October 2025 using the following keywords: (“mental health” AND resilience AND “frontline workers” OR “first responders” AND stress OR burnout). At the same time, peer-reviewed articles, including original research, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, were included. Studies were screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, focusing on mental health outcomes, coping strategies, and resilience frameworks among frontline workers. Correspondingly, findings revealed consistently high prevalence rates of anxiety, depression, burnout, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among frontline workers. Notably, effective coping mechanisms, such as mindfulness, emotional regulation, and social support, along with resilience factors such as self-efficacy and adaptability, were demonstrated to mitigate psychological distress. However, significant gaps persist in standardizing resilience assessment, evaluating longterm intervention outcomes, and integrating systemic reforms with individual-level strategies. While resilience and coping interventions show promise, future research must adopt interdisciplinary, longitudinal, and technology-enhanced approaches to develop sustainable models of psychological support. Additionally, embedding resilience training and organizational mental health policies can foster well-being and strengthen workforce readiness for future crises.
Keywords
Coping Strategies, Resilience Factors
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References
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