Health Care Professionals

In the demanding field of health care, stressors are inevitable. From adjusting to unusual hours and extra shifts, to the trauma of losing patients — your job is not easy. The COVID-19 pandemic has created added layers of uncertainty and increased loss, along with deep concern for the well-being of yourself and your family. Now more than ever, those taking care of us on the frontlines need our support in return.

As you explore this page, take a moment to review signs that indicate it’s time to consider asking for support, as well as a range of resources created especially for frontline health care professionals. You’ll also find actionable tips on building resiliency, and ways for families to get involved.

Caring for others requires that you also care for yourself. You are not alone.

When To Reach Out

Sometimes it’s easy to recognize the signs that you need to talk to someone about how you’re doing. But as you continue to care for patients, fill extra shifts and manage all the usual stressors day after day, it can become routine to ignore the effects of stress and trauma. You can miss the signs that you need support, so it’s essential to check in with yourself frequently. Reach out for support if you are experiencing any of these warning signs.

Feeling irritable or angry. You may have a lack of patience for things that never used to bother you. You may feel irritated or even angry a lot more than usual.

Feeling anxious, depressed, lonely or constantly sad. You may feel happy much less frequently. The bad days seem to far outweigh the good days.

Reliving traumatic events. You may want nothing more than to forget the distressing things you’ve experienced, or the losses and suffering you’ve seen, but those memories keep reappearing, often unexpectedly.

Isolating yourself and lack of trust in others. You may feel alone, yet you also prefer to be alone. You don’t want to talk or socialize, and have lost interest in usual activities. You may question whether anyone cares, including your leadership at work, and maybe even people who are normally close to you.

Experiencing compassion fatigue, burnout or moral injury. You may find it difficult to empathize with others and are bothered by decisions and situations that feel wrong. The cost of caring may have stretched you thin, and you struggle to get through each shift.

Struggling to sleep or oversleeping. You may be negatively impacted by shiftwork and have little recovery time. You never seem to feel rested — if you can sleep at all. Or you may want to sleep far more than usual.

New or increased substance use. You, and perhaps others, have noticed an increase in how much you are drinking or using other substances.

Experiencing physical issues that impact you in unexpected ways: This could include:

• Digestive and/or appetite problems
• Increased aches and pain
• Sexual and/or reproductive issues
• Executive function and memory problems

The COVID-19 pandemic has created some unusual circumstances and as a result, you may find that you’ve taken on additional roles that create a range of emotions. These feelings and experiences are normal, but they can take a significant toll on your well-being.

It doesn’t mean that you are destined to have a long-term mental health condition because you’re experiencing this, but addressing signs and symptoms is vital to ensuring lifelong mental health and wellness.

Taking care of yourself is essential — and NAMI can help.

Confidential And Professional Support

You have been focused on taking care of others, now it’s time to let others help take care of you. Sometimes just having someone to listen helps. Other times, having professional mental health support is essential. Just because you aren’t able to speak with someone face-to-face doesn’t mean you can’t access support.

There are several free, confidential and virtual support services available for frontline health care professionals. Find the one that is right for you.

• Therapy Aid provides pro-bono therapy for frontline health care professionals, including individual and group support.
• The Emotional PPE Project connects health care professionals with licensed mental health professionals who can help. This service is free and does not require insurance.
• COVID Mental Health Support from the Pandemic Crisis Services Response Coalition offers free mental health support, searchable by area.
• The Battle Within provides free therapy to medical personnel, first responders and veterans. Private therapists are available to work with individuals in crisis, or who are experiencing grief, anxiety, stress or trauma.
• 911 At Ease International provides access to free trauma-informed counseling for frontline responders and families, including police, fire, paramedics, emergency medical personnel and other essential agencies.

You can also contact the NAMI HelpLine between 10 am and 8 pm ET at 800-950-6264 to access confidential, professional support. For immediate assistance, text “SCRUBS” to 741741 at any time.

Peer Support Resources

A trained peer — someone who also wears scrubs and knows exactly what you’re going through — can be an invaluable resource. They understand the challenges and frustrations of the profession and are able to lend support in tough times. Peer support offers you a shared perspective with a skilled response.

You are not alone; your peers are ready to stand with you.

• PeerRxMed is a free peer-to-peer program for physicians and other health care professionals. PeerRxMed offers support, connection, encouragement, resources and skill building for optimal well-being.
• Physician Support Line helps physicians and medical students navigate personal and professional challenges through a volunteer network of psychiatrists.
• American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress offers online support groups for emergency responders and health care workers.
• Nurse Groups is a free and confidential videoconference group service for nurses to connect and process issues related to COVID-19.
• Disaster Response Assets Network offers free online peer support groups for frontline responders and health care professionals.

Building Resilience

As a frontline health care professional, you are already accustomed to stress. But for most, these last months of working during a pandemic have been more difficult than usual. The added stress of treating patients with especially difficult illnesses and injuries can cause stress to accumulate. It can be easy to ignore the minor impact — until you realize that the impact is no longer minor.

You may also find that your usual methods of coping are harder to access due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who have met up in groups to decompress, or used the gym or fitness classes to alleviate stress, may be wondering what is left to try when something as simple as hugging one another may be risky.

Whether you are building your resilience as a preventative measure, or are seeking to add to your resiliency skills in new ways, you do have options. Health care professionals already know and understand the importance of their physical health, so you need more than the usual list of coping skills. Before getting into specific strategies, start with these essential steps.

• First and foremost, have compassion for yourself. Your work is demanding and difficult, and it’s normal to be negatively affected by stress and trauma. It’s especially normal that these feelings are magnified by the pandemic.
• Identify your emotions: shock, sadness, anger, guilt, fear, relief, etc. These are expected emotional responses, and it is okay to feel them, in any combination. Calling them what they are helps you gain perspective, and focus on your approach for feeling better.
• Identify the symptoms that are bothering you, as well as how they impact you daily. Then talk to someone about it, whether through professional channels or peer support.
• Explore resources and keep track of go-to coping strategies. Every step you take to manage stress and trauma puts you in a powerful position to improve and protect your mental health.