ACMT COVID-19 Web Series FAQs
Psychological Resiliency
The May 13, 2020 ACMT COVID Webinar features a presentation by Nadine Kaslow, PhD from Emory University on “Psychological Resilience During COVID-19 and Beyond”. This presentation and the FAQs below highlight coping skills and resources that we hope healthcare providers and others will find useful in dealing with the psychological impact of this pandemic.
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The spectrum of emotional responses to the COVID-19 pandemic is very large and can vary over time even within individuals, and by location and current or anticipated disease prevalence. Uncertainty, anxiety, fear, anger, mistrust, sadness, depression, guilt, feeling stressed along with physical manifestations of same such as difficulties with sleep, obsessive behaviors, misuse of sedatives and other drugs, and hopelessness are all within the expected range of psychological responses. Suicidal thoughts may intrude and some have committed suicide. Denial, bravado, or cynicism may also be seen. As with other human tragedies resulting in grief, the acute emotional reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic are not the same as psychiatric pathology - we should not rush to “diagnose”, but rather provide an open, listening environment with our colleagues, recognizing the ongoing stress that may precipitate a range of emotions that we all may experience to one extent or another. We should all be in this together.
REFERENCES: CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Coping with Stress: |
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Healthcare providers – at baseline – have an increased risk of suicide compared to the general population. The increased workload, changes in standard practice and procedures, concentration of ill patients and fear of infection – for themselves and loved ones, and the potential for substance misuse to deal with stress are added to the weight of our normal dealings with human tragedy and professional burnout. Nurses, in particular, may be at risk because of their long shifts with bedside care responsibilities. Young people may not have had prior experience with the magnitude of tragedy they encounter. On the other hand, older individuals may have particular concerns because of “high-risk” conditions (though certainly not relegated to older people). In short, any person who feels overwhelmed and isolated without a tested coping strategy or trusted person with whom to share their concerns is at particular risk. Thus, maintaining human contact – even virtually – and providing those dealing directly with the impact of the epidemic the opportunity to articulate their feelings without fear are critically important.
REFERENCES: El-Hage W, Hingray C, Lemogne C, Yrondi A, Brunault P, et al. Health professionals facing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: what are the mental health risks? Encephale 2020;46(3S):573-580. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7174182/pdf/main.pdf [abstract in English; article in French] |
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REFERENCES: Kessler D. Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief Simon & Schuster, Inc. New York, NY 2019. |
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