Health care professionals are at high risk of mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the stressful work environment and risk of infection. A survey found high rates of depression, anxiety, and insomnia among healthcare workers in China during the outbreak. To reduce stress, healthcare workers should practice self-care, maintain a positive attitude, ensure adequate rest, share feelings with colleagues, and seek professional help if needed. Checking personal signs of burnout and maintaining a routine can also help healthcare workers remain mentally strong during this challenging time.

1. STRESS AMONG HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Dr Jilani
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY
ERA UNIVERSITY
LUCKNOW

2. Introduction
• Health care professionals (HCWs):
• Always stressed but remain calm and well dressed
• But every task is an opportunity and challenge to be proved rather than a
mere work
• Every HCWs have unique superb qualities and mental state
• The biggest reason to choose medical field
• The biggest reason to survive in medical field
• The biggest reason to excel in medical field
• The biggest reason to work under pressure

3. Introduction
• Health care professionals (HCWs):
• Every HCWs have:
• Developed abilities to fight with ongoing persistent stress
• Developed qualities to fight the challenges till outcome
• Developed ways to self motivation and self relaxation
• Developed hobbies, leisure activities to de-stress themselves
• The most Nobel profession- always helpful and helpful in any adverse
situations

4. WHO ARE AT HIGHER RISK OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS ?
• FIRST RESPONDERS
• MEDICAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
• EMERGENCY SERVICES WORKERS
• SANITATION WORKERS
• ASSOCIATED STAFFS
• Front lines making sure their patients
and the public are safe:
•Just like the Army on borders taking care for us,
we are equivalent here to treat the sufferers
• Quick & rationale evidenced based
decisions
• Quarantines: away from social
supports

5. WHO ARE AT HIGHER RISK OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS ?
We may be emotionally drained
We may be mentally fatigued
Struggling with “burnout” for a long period of time
Persistent risk for contacting infections
Pressurized due to our own moral values
We may be indecisive in challenging situations
But being human being, we also need mental
peace and soothing Listeners to hear us

6. Lai J et al. Mental Health Effects of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers in China. JAMA Network, March
27, 2020
• Cross-sectional, geographically stratified survey of 1257 healthcare
workers: 39% physicians; 61% nurses; 72% of nurses from 34
hospitals in Wuhan & other states:
• High rates of:
• Depression: 50%
• Anxiety: 45%
• Insomnia: 34%
• Distress: 72%
• Mild intensity: 80-90%
• Moderate Intensity: 10-20%
• More common in females and nurses

7. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO
REDUCE STRESS?

8. WHO ARE AT HIGHER RISK OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS ?
Always have in mind:
POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND CONFIDENCE:
- We will be winner, as other have shown it
•We are best skilled in our field and we can give our best to manage and
save the lives as per standard evidenced based protocol
• But don’t be disappointed by the consequences but agree to learn from
experiences/circumstances/outcomes
• Always believe we can only give our best but we are not GOD, hence we
cant change the fate
When HCPs will be safe,
Patients would be safer
Safe means:
Mentally calm composed
alert and sound to take
prompt decisions
Physically fresh, and safe
from getting hurt, getting
infections etc

9. Good working styles
• Be safe and ensure safety of team
• Ensure adequate hydration and meals
• Proper arrangements for rest and sleep
• Arrangements for proper sanitation
• Dynamic and enthusiast team leader
• Be a good listener and obedient to your team
leader
• Avoid conflicts during work/ if arises solve by
good communication

10. Good working styles
• Don'ts be overwhelmed to work all the hours
• Don’t be enthusiast to save all the patients:
concept of triage
• Even during designated work hour, try to keep
yourself calm, composed and relaxed
• Overworked and tired professionals have reduced
capacity to make decisions in the best of interests
I feel powerless
I am helpless
Despite the giving my best: nothing
positive
I am Hopeless

11. PRECAUTION: Minimize chances of self exposure
-Followed strict personal protective measures (e.g., mask, gown, hand washing etc.)
-Kept separate clothes for work/used disposable scrubs provided by Hospital to minimize
transmission
-Considered every patient admitted to the hospital as having COVID-19 infection until
unless proved to be negative
-Read about COVID-19, its prevention and mechanism of transmission
-Avoided going out in public places to minimize exposure from COVID-19
Good working styles

12. Self Relaxation, self motivation :
- Involve in relaxation activities, e.g., involved in music, TV shows, exercise etc.
- Chat with family and friends to relieve stress and obtain support
- Talking to yourself and motivating to face the COVID-19 outbreak with positive
attitude
- Sharing jokes or humor among colleagues
Individual Coping styles

13. During this critical time, you need to check their stress “Thermometers.”
Ask yourself if you have signs of burnout or secondary traumatic stress. These include:
1.Sadness, depression, or apathy
2.Feeling easily frustrated
3.Feeling isolated or disconnected from others
4.Feeling tired, exhausted, or overwhelmed
5.Feeling like a failure or that nothing you can do will help
6.Excessive worry or fear about something bad happening
7.Being easily startled, or “on guard” all of the time
8.Having physical signs of stress (eg, racing heart)
9.Nightmares or recurrent thoughts about the traumatic situation
10.The feeling that others’ trauma is yours
Checklists for yourself

14. During this critical time, the news and information regarding COVID changes minute to
minute. This can affect you many ways:
1. Stay in touch: In fact you are also isolated but in infectious environments
2. Get accurate information: Don’t be overburdened
3. Take a breather: Stop, Take a breath, calm down. Believe that the situation will pass away
4. Walk it off:
1. Even a little exercise burn your stress.
2. If you calm the tension in your body, you calm tension in your mind
5. Give and get support from colleagues:
1. Listen carefully and share experiences and feelings.
2. Encourage each other to take breaks. Share opportunities for stress relief (rest, routine
sleep, exercise, and deep breathing).”
6. Care for yourself as well as you care for others: Helping others is getting helped.
7. Get professional help
7 points for remaining calm

15. Some facts about covid-19

16. Some facts about covid-19

17. Some facts about covid-19

18. REFERENCES
• 8 ways to protect doctors caring for patients with COVID-19 ; Sara
Berg
• Doctors, nurses risk mental health issues amid COVID-19 outbreak ;
Lora Painter
• https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/8-ways-
protect-doctors-caring-patients-covid-19
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-
stress-anxiety.html

19. THANK YOU
Whatsapp
9044817161
imjilani@gmail.com