Let's support our Healthcare Workers !

I recently read an article on CNN about an ER physician that died by suicide. This hits close to home, as many healthcare workers enter the field because they're compassionate and want to serve patients. This pandemic, however, has brought a lot of overwhelming stress for people with underlying mental illnesses who are not accustomed to this high level of stress. Many people feel that, as healthcare workers, we're trained, we're built tough, and we should be able to handle anything. But at the end of the day, healthcare workers are humans too. They have to return home to their families and live their lives outside of their place of work. That's why it's important for healthcare workers to get help during this time if they're experiencing stress, depression, or anxiety, and for hospitals and facilities to provide these services for their healthcare workers.

If you have a friend or a family member who is a healthcare worker, reach out to them. Ask how they're doing. Tell them you love them and let them know you’ve got their back. Such actions might go a long way for some people because healthcare providers may feel isolated and lonely. They may also feel weird about sharing their emotions, because they don’t want to be seen as weak or incompetent. We're all in this together, and I'm very proud to be a healthcare worker in this healthcare community because I know everyone that enters loves their patients and wants to provide optimum care. So during these challenging times, let's all look out for each other.

Stay blessed.

Author

Dr. Ifeanyi Olele Ifeanyi Olele, DO, MBA, MS, is a board-certified psychiatrist who sees adolescent and adult patients in the greater Washington DC metropolitan area at Genesis Psychiatric Solutions. Dr. Olele is a dedicated psychiatrist in the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma-related stress disorders, and attention deficit disorders. Dr. Ifeanyi Olele is one of the few psychiatrists who utilizes psychotherapy (talk therapy) as part of his treatment plan.