Healthcare staff strains mounting

New research in the United Kingdom has highlighted the profound impact COVID-19 has had on the mental health of front-line healthcare staff with almost half of those working in England's intensive care units reporting symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, anxiety or depression.

Scientists from King's College London questioned more than 700 workers from nine National Health Service, or NHS, hospitals with an anonymous web-based survey between June and July, when infection rates were relatively low.

Published in the journal Occupational Health, the study was made up of 291 doctors, 344 nurses and 74 healthcare workers in other roles, who were asked how they were coping as the first wave eased.

More than half reported good well-being, although the results showed 45 percent "met the threshold" for severe depression or anxiety, PTSD, or problem drinking. One in eight (13 percent) reported frequently having "thoughts of self-harm" or that they would be "better off dead" in the two weeks before the survey.

The survey showed nursing staff are more likely to report higher levels of distress than doctors or other clinical staff. The study noted that although ICU staff are often exposed to traumatic situations as part of their job, since the start of the pandemic, hospital employees have frequently spoken of the emotional burden of treating critically ill patients.

It added that "front-line healthcare staff experience myriad psychological stressors, including fears of contracting the virus and endangering their loved ones... "

Many were on record saying they endure exhaustion and manage sores from wearing their PPE.

"The severity of symptoms we identified are highly likely to impair some ICU staffs' ability to provide high-quality care, as well as negatively impacting on their quality of life," said the lead author of the study, Neil Greenberg.

"These results... should serve as a stark reminder to NHS managers of the pressing need to protect the mental health of ICU workers now in order to ensure they can deliver vital care to those in need," Greenberg said.