Recent studies show that about 20% of health workers all around the globe face anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress during the pandemic. Washington Post Kaiser Foundation poll found that almost 30% of healthcare workers in the US considered quitting their service due to the pressure and overwhelming work schedules. In March, President Biden signed a COVID-19 relief package that grants funds for the treatment and training of frontline health workers.
Fear of losing life
Being the most exposed and vulnerable category, healthcare workers face the anxiety of losing themselves and their dear ones. Some questioned their career choices due to the uncertainty imposed by the pandemic in their personal life. Compassion exhaustion was another problem where the over-commitment to profession lead to insomnia, poor food habits, and lifestyle disorders.
Emotional and physical exhaustion
Working in high-risk departments and being quarantined due to contagion was noted as a reason for mental disorders. Witnessing a large number of deaths and unhealthy situations of the patient takes a toll on health workers. As we know, death is not an easy thing to face, and so is blaming from the patient’s side. It caused emotional burnout and psychological distress in many medical experts.
Occupational data show that the most significant number of deaths occurred among the health workers, including at least one in three deaths among nurses and support staff. The median age of death is around 59 among medical staff, less than the general population statistics.