A time for self-care? Frontline health workers’ strategies for managing mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

AbstractCan a cognitive behavioural approach offer a fresh understanding of the maintaining processes in burnout? This paper considers the enduring nature of burnout symptoms over time. It examines the hypothesis that some of the actions associated with ‘coping’ in burnout may conversely serve to perpetuate burnout symptoms. This model is considered in the context of mental-health workers and is discussed in the light of current research. It implies the need to adopt an approach to burnout that incorporates the challenging of burnout-related cognitions and the elimination of safety behaviours, rather than having a sole focus on self-care strategies.

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Autocuidado em saúde mental de profissionais da saúde durante a pandemia COVID-19 no Brasil: protocolo de revisão / Self-care practices in mental health among health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil: review protocol

Brazilian Journal of Health Review ◽

10.34119/bjhrv4n3-229 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 12579-12586

Author(s):

Pamela Bezerra Da Silva ◽

Samuel Miranda Mattos ◽

Açucena Leal De Araújo ◽

Luciana Leitão Martins ◽

Listamila Sousa De Oliveira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Workers ◽

Self Care ◽

Review Protocol ◽

Care Practices

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What Are You Afraid Of? Managing Staff Fear and Anxiety With Agitated Patients

Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association ◽

10.1177/1078390320902815 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 107839032090281

Author(s):

Caroline Stewart ◽

Lesli Reeves

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Simulation Training ◽

Health Workers ◽

Self Care ◽

Psychiatric Emergency ◽

Mental Health Workers ◽

Multilevel Approach ◽

Care Education ◽

Crisis Prevention ◽

Fear And Anxiety

BACKGROUND: Mental health workers frequently encounter situations in which patients display agitation and escalating behaviors, increasing the risk for assaults, injuries, time off, and possible termination. These factors contribute to increased fear and anxiety when engaging with agitated patients in the psychiatric setting. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this quality improvement project was to explore how a multilevel approach of psychiatric simulation training, psychiatric emergency code support, enhanced crisis prevention intervention training, and self-care education addressed staff fear and anxiety related to managing agitated patients. STUDY DESIGN: Data collection was done by voluntary pre and post simulation training surveys, medical record review of high-risk violent patients, documented psychiatric emergency code debriefings, implementation of enhanced crisis prevention education, and voluntary self-care evaluations completed by mental health workers at staff retreats. RESULTS: Findings with psychiatric simulation showed effectiveness in improving role clarity, confidence, and feelings of preparedness for managing crisis situations. Review of code debriefings identified safety as the highest problem. Small work groups were created to address individualized elements that were expressed by mental health workers as safety concerns. Self-care education through staff retreats increased awareness on prevention of compassion fatigue and burnout, while allowing mental health workers to engage in activities that promote and improve cohesiveness of the team. CONCLUSIONS: These approaches effectively addressed management of fear and anxiety with agitated patients as well as solidified the notion that a multilevel approach is necessary.

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Connecting PLWHA in Rural Virginia to Health and Mental Health Care-Perspectives from the Life Worlds of Frontline Health Workers and PLWHA

HIV/AIDS Research and Treatment - Open Journal ◽

10.17140/hartoj-2-e004 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. e9-e11

Author(s):

Jill E. Rowe ◽

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Health Workers ◽

Frontline Health Workers

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Psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on frontline health care workers in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2021.621 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (S1) ◽

pp. S232-S233

Author(s):

Suman Ahmed ◽

Mohammad Shamsul Ahsan ◽

Rubaiya Khan ◽

Mahbubul Hasan ◽

Fahmida Ferdous ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Health Workers ◽

P Value ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Frontline Health Workers ◽

Care Workers

AimsFrontline health care workers exposed to COVID-19 patients could be at increased risk of developing psychological issues. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of mental health-related problems, specifically depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and insomnia among health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh and to compare these between medical and allied health care professionals.MethodThis cross-sectional survey was conducted using Google Form then subsequent telephone interview between June and August 2020. Using random sampling, a total of 479 health care professionals participated in the study. We collected data on demographics. Anxiety and depression were measured using 4 items Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), PTSD was measured using 4 items Primary Care (PC)-PTSD-Screen, and insomnia was measured by using a 7-item Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess risk factors associated with mental health symptoms.ResultOverall, 17.6% of frontline health workers had symptoms of anxiety, 15.5% had depression symptoms, 7.6% had PTSD symptoms and 5.9% had symptoms of insomnia. Compared to allied health professionals (n = 113, 24%), doctors (n = 366, 76%) had significantly higher prevalence of anxiety: 21.1% vs 06%, (OR = 4.19; 95% CI = 1.88–9.35; p-value <0.001); depression: 18% vs 6.8%, (OR = 2.99; 95% CI = 1.40–6.42; p-value 0.005); PTSD: 9.4% vs 1.7%, (OR = 5.96; 95% CI = 1.41–25.11; p-value 0.015) and insomnia: 7.4% vs 0.9%, (OR = 9.22; 95% CI = 1.24–68.4; p-value 0.03). Logistic regression analysis showed that pre-existing medical illness has significantly more risks of developing symptoms of anxiety (adjusted OR = 2.85; 95% CI = 1.71–4.76; p-value <0.001) and depression (OR = 2.29; 95% CI = 1.39–3.77; p-value 0.001). Having a postgraduate degree (adjusted OR = 6.13; 95% CI = 1.28–29.28; p-value 0.023) and working in secondary care setting (adjusted OR = 3.08; 95% CI = 1.18–8.02; p value 0.021) have significant predictors of developing anxiety symptoms among health workers. Those who had worked more than 6 weeks in COVID-19 dedicated hospitals had risk of developing symptoms of PSTD (OR = 2.83; 95% CI = 1.35–5.93; p value 0.006) and insomnia (OR = 2.63; 95% CI = 1.15–6.02; p value 0.022).ConclusionOur study demonstrated a high prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and insomnia among Bangladeshi frontline health workers (particularly among doctors) during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is an urgent need to address the mental health needs of frontline health workers.Funding: Medical Research Council, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh.

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Individual, Team, and Organizational Factors Influencing Worker Satisfaction: Program Evaluation Findings for Nonprofit Mental Health Providers

Rehabilitation Research Policy and Education ◽

10.1891/re-19-11 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 103-113

Author(s):

Rebekah Lemmons ◽

Steve Zanskas ◽

Leigh Harrell-Williams ◽

Pamela Cogdal ◽

Steve West

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Job Satisfaction ◽

Linear Regression ◽

Health Workers ◽

Self Care ◽

Organizational Factors ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Mental Health Providers ◽

Health Providers ◽

Worker Satisfaction

PurposeThe purpose of this quantitative study was to evaluate the influences of self-care, support, and organizational factors (program locations, injury rates, intensity of services) on the job satisfaction of 154 nonprofit residential mental health workers.MethodsHierarchical multiple linear regression was utilized in order to determine which group of variables explained the most variation in the outcome variable.ResultsBased upon the results of the three models of hierarchical linear regression, the hypothesis that higher self-care ratings are related to higher levels of job satisfaction and higher staff team support ratings are related to higher overall worker satisfaction scores was supported.ConclusionAgencies, supervisors, and professionals can utilize these findings to inform policies and practices aimed at increasing worker satisfaction.

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