4 June- As part of the Caribbean mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and COVID-19 webinar series, the Mental Health and Substance Use Unit, in collaboration with the PAHO Caribbean Subregional Office, hosted a virtual seminar on protecting the mental health of health workers. Participants included members of the Caribbean MHPSS roster, Ministry of Health focal points and Caribbean subregional partners.
Dr. Fahmy Hanna, psychiatrist and technical officer of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse of the WHO, presented on the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on health care workers. Health workers are all people engaged in actions with the primary intent of enhancing health, including people with and without healthcare training and experience. These workers not only reported higher rates of common mental health disorders and were at an increased risk of suicide prior to COVID-19, but they are also more vulnerable to suffering adverse mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific COVID-19 stressors for healthcare workers include greater demands at work (longer hours, increased patient numbers, etc.), stigma and discrimination directed towards them, and the fear of becoming infected and infecting others.
Poor mental and psychosocial health in healthcare workers can contribute to changes in behavior related to their work, such as reduced activity level and motivation, and poor performance. However, we can all play a role in protecting health workers’ mental health, All health workers should have access to MHPSS, and practical work arrangements that protect their mental health should be in place.