Addressing the Psychological Needs of Workers in Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic Must Not Be an Afterthought

Abstract

The current COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented and poses major psychological issues for frontline staff. This includes not only clinicians but others in roles such as portering, cleaning, catering, and patient transport. Although previous outbreaks of novel viruses may provide guidance on possible interventions, these incidents occurred in relatively circumscribed geographical areas, such as the Middle East, South Korea, Hong Kong, or Toronto, and did not extend globally.1 It is therefore important to confirm that lessons from these outbreaks still apply to the current pandemic in terms of strategies that may be useful in assisting frontline staff. The article by Bernstein and colleagues in this issue of the Journal is therefore a welcome addition to the literature.2