Title : Protecting the protectors: Mental health support for frontline healthcare workers during public health crises
Abstract:
Background: The frontline health care workers play an important role in patient care and disease control during public health threats. They are exposed to pressure affecting their psychological state and mental wellness. The March April May (MAM) rains that happened in Kenya in 2024 left behind a trail of destruction including disruption of essential health services. The frontline health care workers in the affected regions were exposed to high levels of stress due to overwhelming workload, long working hours, resource shortage and emotional burden of caring for critically injured patients.
Intervention: In collaboration with Psychosocial officers, twenty-six (26) psychological debrief sessions were offered reaching six hundred and twenty-four (624) front line health workers: who included nurses, clinical officers, public health officers, community health promoters, ambulance staff, social workers and other support staff all responders to the flood emergency. Group counselling was done to the identified group.
Outcome: Twenty-four (24) health care workers were identified for individualised psychosocial support. Workload for the most affected health care workers was reduced and schedule for their rest developed.
Conclusion and recommendation: Maintaining an effective and sustainable health care response during crises requires a physically socially and mentally fit health care worker. It is therefore essential for the health care systems to implement proactive mental health support interventions.
