Those at the forefront of the Covid-19 battle have been working, often away from their families and with negligible breaks, for more than a year. What does this mean for their psychological well-being? Two experts who set up a free helpline for frontline workers share observations and advice
The photo is for representational purpose only
‘Long working hours’ would be an understatement when describing the schedule of frontline workers in India. Pune-based clinical psychologist Dr. Radhika Bapat has observed them carrying out their duties, in difficult conditions and for prolonged periods, without the comfort of being able to confide in those closest to them. “They have had to spend months without seeing loved ones in order to keep their families safe. This can really take a toll [on their mental health].”
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Since last year, and especially during the damaging second wave of coronavirus, frontliners including medical workers, cops, bankers, and NGO staff have been labouring tirelessly to help out. “The pandemic has resulted in significant loss of friends, colleagues, and family members,” says Dr Uma Chandrika Millner, an Assistant Professor in the Division of Psychology and Applied Therapies at Lesley University. “In addition to that, frontline workers have been worried about their own health and that of their loved ones while serving other people. This fear and anxiety of illness and death looms large in their lives.”
It is what prompted US-based Millner and Pune resident Bapat to launch the ‘Indian Network of the Diaspora for Essential Aid and Relief’ (INDEAR), which offers free mental health support to India’s essential workers. The initiative has over 400 mental health practitioners — including psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers — from across the globe sharing their time and expertise. The sessions are available in various Indian languages such as Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, and Marathi. Theirs is among a few helplines and counselling services that have sprung up to ease the mental health crisis among such workers.
Dr. Uma Chandrika Millner
The online initiative has seen a diverse group of frontliners signing up for sessions so far. “These individuals have included doctors, mental health professionals, hotline and helpline workers, NGO resource allocation personnel, among others,” informs Millner. Some of the most common issues reported by them, she says, are depression, anxiety, dissociation, emotional flooding, agitation, social disconnection and existential crises, among others. “Some have expressed suicidal thoughts as well,” she says.
Besides the mental toll of caring for patients, they are also battling worries over their bodily safety. The medical fraternity remains understaffed, overburdened, and regularly exposed to the virus. Further, there have been reports of doctors getting physically attacked and threatened in the past few months too. “Even hearing news reports of assaults on frontline workers have an impact on morale and motivation. In such situations, the stressors far outweigh their capacity to cope resulting in emotional burnout and fatigue,” explains Millner.
On Monday, as reported by ANI, Indian Medical Association (IMA) wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to ensure that medical professionals are able to work without fear and to initiate action against people who spread misinformation regarding the vaccination drive. It also demanded that ‘The Health Services Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill, 2019’ — which punishes people who assault on-duty doctors and other healthcare professionals with a jail term of up to 10 years — be promulgated immediately.
In addition to mental health professionals and NGOs, comedians and artists too have offered to perform exclusively for essential workers, to help them de-stress. But what can frontline workers do to deal with feeling overwhelmed? “Due to the nature of the circumstances, it can be difficult, first and foremost, for frontline workers to identify that they are experiencing emotional burnout and compassion fatigue. Once they are able to identify these challenges, many may feel uncomfortable reaching out for help,” says Millner.
Dr. Radhika Bapat
She suggests that social support is one of the important factors in helping a person cope in extremely stressful circumstances, especially that of a humanitarian crisis. “When situations become mentally taxing, it is helpful to connect with trusted people, even if it is for a brief conversation. These individuals can be friends, coworkers and colleagues, administrators, and especially trained mental health professionals.”
Everyone is trying their best to fight the pandemic. While these online resources are helpful, there needs to be something more concrete. Millner notes, “I believe we have to create societal conditions where frontline workers operate with adequate compensation, safety and security, freedom from discrimination, institutional support, opportunities for growth, recognition of their contribution and sacrifice, and adequate time to recover from work overloads.”
Some resources where frontline workers can seek psychological support:
Book a session with a mental health expert by visiting indear.org
Get counselling through NGO Sangath’s free helpline - 011-41198666
Also Read: Explained: What is Long Covid, how to detect it, and ways to manage symptoms
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