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How Healthcare Workers Can Care For Their Mental Health During The Pandemic
Though this pandemic has had a considerable effect on the mental health of all people of all demographics and career fields, some groups undeniably have been affected more so than others.
The healthcare professionals and first responders who have been serving on the frontlines of this pandemic since its beginning, sacrificing time, safety and some tragically their lives to keep others safe, can be considered high-up among those whose psychological wellbeing has been most detrimentally impacted by the Covid-19 virus.
During a survey of 1,119 healthcare workers: 92.76% reported regularly feeling some amount of stress while on the job, 86.06% said they had dealt with anxiety, and 76% admitted to experiencing exhaustion/burnout. While discussing mental health support systems/resources for mental healthcare: 35% of healthcare workers said they believed they had necessary emotional support, 26% answered that they were not sure, and 39% felt that they did not.
Also, during this study, a considerable number of healthcare workers reported some physical consequence of the effect workplace conditions had on their mental health: 82.13% reported experiencing emotional exhaustion, 70.15% reported trouble with sleep (difficulty falling/staying asleep) and 68.28% stated that they were experiencing physical exhaustion.
If healthcare workers are to continue with their heroic work, as well as live their lives outside of the hospital/clinic, it is paramount that they are made aware of resources meant to tend to their mental health, and practices designed to aid their psychological wellbeing.
When it comes to resources meant to aid healthcare workers and first responders where their mental health is concerned, there are fortunately multiple online organizations one can use while on the road to managing their psychological well being:
PeerRxMed is an online newsletter, blog and peer-to-peer that provides weekly reports and articles on how those in the healthcare world can avoid depression, anxiety and burnout; while also encouraging interactions amongst subscribers to inform them that they are not alone in their mental health journey.
American Academy of Experts In Traumatic Stress connects healthcare workers with professionally-led support groups, intervention meetings and mental health seminars available in their area.
NurseGroups is a confidential, no-cost service that provides nurses with the opportunity to connect with others in their profession over video conference to discuss their challenges during the pandemic and gather a beneficial support network.
It is also vital that healthcare workers understand and are able to adopt practices and behaviours meant to combat anxiety, depression and any other detrimental mental health afflictions that they may come to blows with as a result of their work conditions.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that, in regards to their psychological health and mental stability, healthcare workers would benefit by:
Communicating with fellow healthcare workers about job stress.
Acknowledging the fact that everyone is currently living in an unprecedented time.
Maintaining a consistent and controlled daily routine, with regular sleep intervals and healthy meals.
Exercising and engaging in some type of physical activity.
Recognizing that negative feelings/emotions are normal given the state of their workplace and the nation.
Narrowing down what negative emotions are being felt.
Identifying sources of strength and support.
Researching local and online mental health resources.
Though their hippocratic oath mandates that they care for, and attend to the health of others, healthcare professions possess an equal obligation towards themselves, their lives, and their wellbeing. During these unprecedented times where personal safety and bodily preservation has become a primary focus for many people, it cannot be emphasized enough that the mental health and wellness of healthcare workers, who keep people safe, secure and healthy at the cost of their safety, security and health, should never be forgotten.
