Dr Santosh Bangar, Consultant- Psychiatrist, Global Hospital discusses the burnout that doctors are feeling mentally due to the current crisis which has not only exposed them to long / extreme working hours and conditions, but also endangered their lives, staying away from families and constantly living in fear of getting infected of infecting their family members
The number of patients suffering from Coronavirus is rising at an alarming rate in India. There are many people who have lost their lives due to COVID-19. This unprecedented pandemic has been overwhelming for the entire medical profession. It has taken huge toll on doctors, nurses and other hospital staff. The rate of mental health problems amongst the doctors has been on the rise. They have reported symptoms of anxiety, depression, burnout owing to the long working hours, especially with the personal protective equipment (PPE) in hot and humid weather. They are also at the forefront to deliver bad news to the families of the patient’s morbidity and mortality.
If the person is affected by the virus, he / she may get bogged down. To top it all, the healthcare workers also need to ensure their own safety in stressful circumstances. Here, we shed some light on the mental health of the workers during the pandemic.
Coronaviruses (CoV) belong to a large family of viruses that may lead to respiratory illnesses, ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). Earlier this year, a new strain of Coronavirus was discovered, which has not been previously identified in human beings, also known as novel coronavirus (nCov). COVID-19 is a virus that causes respiratory disease and in serious cases it can lead to pneumonia. Coronavirus is a matter of public health concern in India.
Doctors are stressed and anxious too
The doctors also experience anxiety, depression, fear of unknown situations, the stress of struggle to travel during the lockdown, and those long working hours that exhaust them physically and mentally. Burnout was also commonly seen in the doctors. So, if you are one of them who is dealing with coronavirus then you must also think about the doctors who are the frontline warriors. Imagine, how they must be feeling, the pain they go through, their stress and sometimes they get caught in complicated situations as well. The doctors who treat COVID positive patients are continuously exposed to the virus and may not have that luxury to protect themselves from it. They are at a higher risk when compared to other people. You will also be shocked to know that many doctors have separated themselves from their families just to ensure the safety of their loved ones.
Staying away from family can be stressful
The doctors may become anxious owing to the shortage of proper protective gear. Not only this, the doctors aren’t able to spend quality time with their family members and this is also worrisome to their family. The families of the doctors are also stressed as their loved one is away from them serving the patients with coronavirus. The doctors also bear the stress of reassuring the patients that they will be safe, motivating the families of the patients’ emotional upheaval. Thus, there is significant psychological burden on doctors. Here, the mental health of doctors is in jeopardy and management of this stress is paramount to avoid further mental health complications.
Difficult decisions
There are many instances where the doctors are required to take tough decisions such as putting the patient on the ventilator or breaking the bad news of death. The doctors have to explain this to the already emotional and anxious relatives. In some situations, the doctors may face a shortage of appropriate equipment.
How to deal with a mental health crisis?
In countries across the world, people under lockdown gathered at their balconies to applaud and cheer for healthcare workers who are putting their lives at stake to save others. But, will this be helpful? Is this enough? Will only expressing the gratitude do the trick? What more? Like the patients, the doctors will also take time to heal, mentally to come to terms with the emotional turmoil. It is essential to protect the doctors from the mental trauma they suffer from. Every day may feel heavy for them, some may feel sad as the workload increases. They may feel lonely, tired on top of being socially isolated. They may not have enough time to pay attention to their physical fitness and even can’t care for their beloved ones. The doctors need to meditate, relax, and stay stress-free. Appropriate professional help must be made available for them when they need it.