Perhaps more than any time in recent history, the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the vital role that health and care workers play in caring for the global population. Yet it has become increasingly clear over the last three years that we – as policymakers, employers and, ultimately, society – have largely failed in our duty of care for these essential workers, particularly with regard to their mental health and wellbeing. Even before the pandemic, challenging working conditions, ethical dilemmas, and high-stress environments were known to increase the likelihood of mental health conditions among this group. The unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on health services has exacerbated these issues and has also revealed stark gaps in how most health systems assess, manage and protect the mental health of their health and care workers.