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. 2020 Aug;17(4):253-254.
doi: 10.36131/cnfioritieditore20200406.

Psychological Aid for Frontline Healthcare Workers

Andrew T Gloster  1 , Marianna Zacharia  2 , Maria Karekla  2
Affiliations

Psychological Aid for Frontline Healthcare Workers

Andrew T Gloster et al. Clin Neuropsychiatry. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Given the challenges of COVID-19, practical measures including psychological support for frontline healthcare workers are essential. The aim of this article is to provide psychological aid to frontline healthcare professionals based on evidence-based practices. Suggestions for self-care entail sleep, rest, regular breaks at work, physical activity and healthy nutrition. Given the high demands of the job, frontline healthcare professionals may be experiencing various difficult emotions (i.e., fear, frustration, guilt, sadness, grief, anger, shame), which are normal human emotions. Suppressing these emotions will not be effective in the long-term. It may be more helpful to recognize emotions and make room for them to exist, as struggling with emotions can cause more suffering. Concentrating on one's own behaviour in line with meaningful life directions may be more helpful. Treating oneself with self-compassion, sharing emotions and experiences, offering mutual encouragement and staying emotionally connected with loved ones via digital methods can be helpful.

Keywords: COVID-19; frontline health care; psychological aid.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None.

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