In the recently published commentary in JAMA Network Open, "Supporting the Public Health Workforce Requires Collective Actions to Address Harassment and Threats", Sarah Gollust, PhD urges for investments in the public health work force as well as strategies to respond to the recent findings that "more than 1 in 5 US adults believe that harassing or threatening public health officials because of business closures during the COVID-19 pandemic is justified."
Gollust connects these beliefs to actions that include "harassment targeting leadership or staff, ranging from social media backlash, broadcast of personal information, threatening messages, demonstrations, and vandalism." Consequentially, public health workers experience mental health challenges and exit the field, leading to a "depleted and demoralized workforce."
