Even though it’s a new year, we don’t automatically reset our same old thought patterns. The pandemic has taken a dangerous toll on the mental health of our frontline healthcare workers. Although hope is on the horizon for so many currently getting the vaccine, the mental and emotional fatigue may be too much. "We are seeing many frontline workers coming in to our office mentally burned out," said Jenn Tomko the head therapist at Clarity Health Solutions in Jupiter. She’s not wrong. According to a recent survey conducted by Mental Health America (MHA), healthcare workers aren’t getting a reprieve. They are frustrated, anxious, overwhelmed, burned out and worried about exposing their loved ones. Nurses seem to be particularly prone to these issues. The study showed that healthcare workers are:
• Stressed out and anxious: 93% of health care workers were experiencing stress
• Worried about exposing loved ones: 76% of healthcare workers reported that they were worried about exposing their child to COVID-19
• Emotionally and physically exhausted: Emotional exhaustion was the most common answer for how healthcare workers were feeling (82%)
• Not getting enough emotional support: 39% of healthcare workers said that they did not feel like they had adequate emotional support. Nurses were even less likely to have emotional support (45%).
• Struggling with parenting: Among people with children, half reported they are lacking quality time or are unable to support children or be a present parent.
Tomko says stress, if left untreated, can lead to more severe mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, psychosis and even thoughts of suicide or self-harm. She says that the best way to avoid a mental health crisis is to try and actively change your thoughts. "Make a conscious effort to be in the moment" said Tomko, be patient with yourself and also know that most hospitals and healthcare system treating COVID-19 patients have mental health resources readily available for healthcare workers to access.”
Bottom line, the new year may not be bringing a respite … but it’s coming soon!
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