Support the frontliners – good initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic for healthcare workers across the world: is this what we really need?

• Published in: BJPsych international Vol. 19; no. 4
• Main Authors: Karaliuniene, Ruta, Nagendrappa, Sachin, Jatchavala, Chonnakarn, Ojeahere, Margaret Isioma, Ullah, Irfan, Bytyçi, Drita Gashi, Ogunnubi, Oluseun Peter, Cherro, Michele, Shalbafan, Mohammadreza, Noël, Camille, Gonzalez-Diaz, Jairo M., Vadivel, Ramya, Pereira-Sanchez, Victor, Abu Slaih, Mohammad, Shoib, Sheikh, de Filippis, Renato
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.11.2022
• Subjects: Burnout; Child care; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Emergency medical care; Global Echoes; Gratitude; Health initiatives; Health problems; Meals; Medical personnel; Mental disorders; Mental health; Pandemics; Personal protective equipment; Policy and Law; Religion; Resilience; Workers; Nigeria; Italy; COVID-19; front-line healthcare; resilience; support; healthcare workers
• ISSN: 2056-4740; 2058-6264
• DOI: 10.1192/bji.2022.6

Healthcare workers have faced an unprecedented workload in overstretched health facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we describe various initiatives to support them. Psychological, financial and peer support, accommodation and meal services, proper personal protective equipment, applause and gratitude in the community, spiritual and religious life, child care and volunteering were identified. The potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic – permanent stress, burnout and other mental health problems among healthcare professionals – can be expected to grow. Continued monitoring is essential to bolster resilience among healthcare workers and prevent the possible consequences for their mental health.