Let’s take this one day at a time.
As a healthcare professional, you are now being called upon to be on the frontlines, each and every day. There is enormous gratitude for what you are doing and how courageously you show up to care for people who need you. You are surely the heroes of this pandemic. But even heroes need support dealing with stress, exhaustion, and anxieties. If you are in need of help, we are here for you.
The resources here will be updated regularly to make sure we are providing the best information possible. You can access immediate virtual care including professional counselling, a 24/7 Crisis Line, and other mental health updates. While you are caring for others, it’s crucial to look after yourself as much as you can. And if all that means right now is talking to someone trained to help in crisis situations, then you are in the right place.
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Managing Stress During COVID 19 for First Responders And Frontline Healthcare Workers
We appreciate your commitment to the well-being of all of us. We also know this career commitment you have made is extremely difficult for you and your loved ones during this health crisis. Exhaustion, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and fear for your own health are very real and a normal reaction to the current COVID19 pandemic. The following tips and tools are our way of trying to provide some support to all of you during this time. We recognize that not all of these are possible, some may be impossible at certain times. It is our hope than one small tip has a positive impact on your own wellness.
Harm Reduction During COVID 19
Some of these are easier to do than others, and some may seem impossible depending on your current situation. Do the best you can. Reach out to friends, harm reduction, syringe service providers (SSP), and other health or social service providers to plan for what to do to so you can stay safe and take care of one another.
Improving Your Sleep: Tips for Healthcare Workers During COVID-19
This quick list will provide you 13 ways to improve your sleep hygiene now. When people are experiencing high levels of stress, working long hours and their routines are different, sleep is more important than ever to recharge your battery to enter back onto the front lines with energy and mental well-being.
Canadian Red Cross: Psychological First Aid Pocket Guide
Psychological First Aid (PFA) provides emotional and practical support to individuals, families, or communities who are having difficulty coping. It is about establishing a connection with people in a compassionate non-judgmental manner to bring calm and comfort. It also helps to reduce stigma associated with mental health crises and can reduce negative health outcomes through general public and community building strategies on self-care and promoting conversations about wellness.
Grounding Exercises
During times of crisis, it is normal to feel disconnected or anxious. Managing emotions becomes difficult and the mind may seem overwhelmed by thoughts of panic, confusion or hopelessness. Grounding exercises help to control and ease emotional experiences and regain mental focus by bringing your attention to the present moment and attention back to reality. You will find a variety of exercises that can guide you to find a place of calm and mental focus.
World Health Organization: Psychological first aid: Guide for field workers
This guide covers psychological first aid which involves humane, supportive and practical help to fellow human beings suffering serious crisis events. It is written for people in a position to help others who have experienced an extremely distressing event. It gives a framework for supporting people in ways that respect their dignity, culture and abilities. Despite its name, psychological first aid covers both social and psychological support.
Resilience, Balance & Meaning – An Excerpt
This excerpt is provided as an educational tool only. If you work in a high stress and trauma-exposed field, this guide is for you. It is designed as a practical, realistic and effective approach to help you build a more resilient, balanced and meaningful life.