How the pandemic is impacting health care workers’ mental health

A woman sits in a hospital room wearing a face mask, face shield and gown.
A health care provider, wearing several types of personal protective equipment that is being tracked by the State of Alaska, provides care in 2020, for a woman hospitalized in an isolation room in the critical care unit of Bartlett Hospital, in Juneau. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)


Trauma is taking a serious toll on health care workers across the country. The constant exposure to death, and the sense of powerlessness that comes from watching patients die alone, has caused a spike of resignations and staffing shortages that only heightens the stress and pressure felt by those who remain on the front lines. What are the long term impacts of secondary trauma for those working the front lines of the pandemic?

Listen here:

HOST: Prentiss Pemberton

GUESTS:

  • Dr. Lisa Lindquist, Providence Alaska Medical Center
  • Dr. Tonya Caylor, Hillside Family Medicine

LINKS & RESOURCES:

Alaska Public Media: In ERs and public meetings, Alaskans rage at health care workers trying to stem COVID spread

PBS NewsHour: Overwhelmed by COVID patients, Alaska’s health care workers also face harassment

PARTICIPATE:

  • Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (10–11 a.m.).
  • Send an email to lineone@alaskapublic.org before, during or after the live broadcast (e-mails may be read on air).

LIVE BROADCAST: Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, at 10 a.m. AKDT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, at 8 p.m. AKDT

LINE ONE’S FAVORITE HEALTH AND SCIENCE LINKS:

SUBSCRIBE: Get Line One: Your Health Connection updates automatically by:

Previous articleModerna and J&J say their data supports COVID vaccine boosters
Next articleHometown Alaska: Indigenous Peoples’ Day can be celebrated all year. Here’s how.