Health personnel in 11 Latin American countries have “high rates” of depressive symptoms or suicidal thoughts, according to a study published Thursday by the WHO regional agency.
The COVID-19 HEalth caRe wOrkErs Study (HEROES) report shows that between 14.7% and 22% of health personnel consulted in 2020 presented symptoms that led to suspicion of a depressive episode, while between 5 and 15% recognized who thought of committing suicide, says the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
The study was carried out by the universities of Chile and Columbia -in collaboration with PAHO- in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Uruguay.
“The pandemic increased the stress, anxiety and depression of health workers and revealed that countries have not developed specific policies to protect their mental health,” said Rubén Alvarado, a researcher at the University of Chile.
In some countries, only about a third of those who said they needed it received psychological care, the statement added.
“The pandemic has shown the wear and tear of health personnel, and in countries where the health system has collapsed, personnel have suffered exhausting hours and ethical dilemmas that have had an impact on their mental health,” says Anselm Hennis, director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases. and PAHO Mental Health.
The mental health of the staff was affected, among other reasons, by the need for emotional and economic support, concern about infecting family members, conflicts with relatives of infected people, and changes in job functions, the study indicates. .
Among the factors that protected the mental health of health personnel, the text highlights the confidence that the institutions and the government could handle the pandemic, have the support of colleagues or be a spiritual or religious person.
To alleviate the problem, the report recommends modifying the work environment, improving remuneration and contracts, and creating spaces where teams can let off steam.
It also advocates providing them with support for the care of their children and elderly people in their care “given that they are mostly women and caregivers”, as well as facilitating access to mental health services.
“After two years of the pandemic, many workers still do not receive the support they need and that can cause them to develop different mental disorders in the coming years, something for which we have to be prepared,” warned Ezra Susser, a researcher at Columbia University .
The study is based on interviews with 14,502 health workers and included the participation of academics and researchers from dozens of institutions in the countries where it was carried out.
“The pandemic is not over. It is essential to take care of those who take care of us”, concludes Anselm Hennis.
