Self-care tips for healthcare workers on the front lines of COVID-19

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Healthcare workers are in high demand as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The growing need for medical care coupled with fears of an overburdened healthcare system have workers facing an increased risk of suffering from stress and anxiety.

“They’re struggling to get their basic needs like personal protective equipment to do their jobs,” says Dr. Brett Johnson, child and adolescent psychiatrist at Rogers Behavioral Health in San Diego. “Colleagues in the mental health field are also dealing with new ways to treat patients virtually through a telehealth model for an undetermined amount of time.”

Dr. Brett Johnson offers three important self-care tips for those who work in healthcare:

1. Maintain structure. If you exercised before, keep doing it. It’s important to stick to your daily routine as much as possible.
2. Stay connected. Even as some healthcare workers transition to work from home, stay in contact with your colleagues, family, and friends. Use technology for things like game nights or watching your favorite show with friends.
3. Ask for help. Know these signs of when to ask for help: 

• Feeling extremely fatigued
• Have fuzzy thinking
• Experience exaggerated emotional responses
• Have increased irritability and anger
• Dread going into work
• Begin to isolate and withdraw
• Fall increasingly behind at work and can’t seem to catch up

You can also check out some free resources for healthcare professionals:

• The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America
• Headspace mediation app

Finding help at Rogers

If you or someone you love is struggling with anxiety or depression or other mood disorders, Rogers has evidence-based treatment that can help. Call 800-767-4411 or request a free, confidential screening online.