If you feel the weight of COVID-19 on your mental health, you are not alone.
A review of 37 published papers found “consistent reports of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms in health care workers as a result of COVID-19.” These studies identified that up to 50% of people involved in health care during the pandemic have experienced a burden on their mental health. Several studies also found that in addition to frontline nurses and physicians, non-frontline workers experienced equal or more mental health concerns.
Although the studies included in this review were conducted in China, Italy, Singapore and the Middle East, the findings are similar to the Mayo Clinic’s findings, and our findings at Nebraska Medicine as well, said Robin Lally, PhD, professor, UNMC College of Nursing. “Approximately 20% to 30% of our workforce completing the online surveys we posted in the NOW and UNMC Today reported moderate to severe distress, anxiety and/or depressive symptoms in both April/May and July/August 2020.” Click here to complete the final survey.
“Our findings also confirm that individuals with roles that do not involve regular patient contact are at risk for mental health burden due to the pandemic,” Dr. Lally said, “23% to 34% of our administrative and other non-frontline Nebraska Medicine workforce reported moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety, distress and/or depression. Therefore, our message to you is, no matter what your role, you are not alone in this experience.”
Mental wellness guidance will be posted in the UNMC Today and NOW each month while COVID-19 is present in our lives. These wellness practices, supported by members of UNMC and Nebraska Medicine’s departments of nursing, medicine, psychiatry, psychology and the Wellness Team, are designed to be quick and easy to perform during the workday or anytime. Click here to access the first wellness practice.
Also remember, additional wellness resources can be found here and here.
Dr. Lally said the team is grateful to everyone who has participated in the surveys thus far. Click here to complete the final survey. Surveys are anonymous and cannot be linked to individuals’ previous responses.