Impact of the pandemic on the mental health of health workers globally and in Chile
New publications by Dr. Jorge Ramírez, ESP academic
Two new studies by the School of Public Health academic analyze the incidence and mortality from COVID-19 in relation to depressive symptoms in health workers, as well as the experience of these professionals in Chile during the pandemic, suggesting urgent measures for their well-being .
The doctor Jorge Ramírez, academic of the Global Health Program of the School of Public Health from the University of Chile, has contributed significantly to the understanding of impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers. Through two recently published investigations, the academic comprehensively addresses the emotional challenges faced by these professionals in the context of a global health crisis.
The first article, titled “Association of depressive symptoms with COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates over 2 years among healthcare workers in 20 countries: serial cross-sectional multi-country study”was published in the renowned magazine BMC Medicine. This study, the result of an international collaboration, is based on a serial cross-sectional study approach and analyzes data obtained from the first two waves of surveys from the global COVID-19 study HEalth carE wOrkErS (HEROES).
The investigation included a total of 32,223 responses from healthcare workers in 20 countrieswith an average age of 40.1 years and a majority of female participants (73.3%). Findings reveal that an increase in COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates is significantly associated with an increase in depressive symptoms, highlighting the need to implement robust mental health support for healthcare workers during and after the pandemic. This study is a pioneer in establishing such an association, suggesting that the additional pressure caused by increasing cases and deaths requires immediate and effective psychological support measures.
In the second article, titled “Care work experience of health workers in Chile during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on mental health: qualitative study based on the international HEROES initiative”Dr. Ramírez leads a qualitative analysis exploring the experience of healthcare workers in Chile. This study is based on 35 semi-structured interviews carried out between the second half of 2022 and the first half of 2023, and employs a thematic analytical approach to examine the factors that influence your mental health.
The results of this study are organized into four main themes:
- Care at work: where changes in job functions, concerns about contagion, a collective “mystique” among professionals, and the stigma associated with their working condition are identified.
- Home care: that reflect the different arrangements of domestic tasks, the relevance of cohabitation and work dynamics that contribute to a “double burden”, especially for women.
- Relationship with one’s own mental health: which includes the recognition of psychological affectation, stress due to uncertainty and the perception of work overload.
- Beliefs and values about the pandemic and its effects: that encompass acceptance of psychological impact, organizational culture that delays self-care, and equality in vulnerability to illness.
Based on these findings, the study proposes five key intervention areas: the gender perspective, previous exposure to crisis experiences, self-care spaces, peer support and institutional response. The identification of these areas suggests the need to take a comprehensive approach to address stressors affecting the mental health of healthcare workers.
Both investigations highlight the importance of prioritizing the psychological well-being of health professionals.who have been on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. The results of these studies not only expand knowledge about the relationship between COVID-19 and mental health, but also They provide concrete recommendations for the development of support policies in future health emergencies.
Articles are available in the following magazines:
BMC Medicine: Association of depressive symptoms
Medwave: Care work experience
Verónica Zúñiga Miranda, Journalist School of Public Health.
Published on Tuesday, October 1, 2024
