translated from Spanish: Pandemic and health workers: caring for those who care for us

Health workers are having a greater workload, they are facing major changes in the functioning of their workplaces and the usual tasks, sometimes they must make decisions as difficult as prioritizing patient care. They are more exposed to contagion and worry about the possibility of transmitting the infection to their family and/or circulating nearby.
Commitment and vocation make them fulfill their attention work in communities, yet they are afraid and stressed and stressed.
It is clear that in a pandemic scenario there are inevitable effects on mental health, for example, those “normal” such as anxiety, anger, distress, nervousness, insomnia, lack of concentration, among others.
But the longer the time of social estating, isolation and lack of foresight of a term for routine change, the more serious the situation, which can lead to the appearance of possible adaptive disorders, bereavement, depression, anxious alterations and acute or post-traumatic stress, substance abuse, suicide, among others.
In times of fear and uncertainty, when threats to one’s survival and that of others become a problem of daily life; mental health could not be expected and should be parallel with preserving the lives of patients.
It is therefore important to address the component as a priority cross-cutting axis that impedes all emergency action for the effective approach of the pandemic and the reduction of its short-, medium- and long-term consequences.
Coordination of the various actors involved in the response, as well as adequate funding, is essential to provide with great urgency the mental health care of health workers and to care for those who care for us.2

The content poured into this opinion column is the sole responsibility of its author, and does not necessarily reflect the editorial line or position of El Mostrador.

Original source in Spanish