Mental Health in the Medical Field (with Resources)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we all witnessed Canadian healthcare workers on the front lines, grappling with the unprecedented influx of patients. This period posed immense challenges for these dedicated professionals. They faced daunting tasks such as managing overwhelmed hospitals, caring for severely ill patients under extraordinary circumstances, and navigating the constant risk of infection themselves. The situation was made worse by shortages of medical supplies and the emotional strain of seeing many lives lost. It came as no surprise when Statistics Canada reported that seven in ten healthcare workers experienced worsening mental health during this period.

The medical field in Canada is synonymous with dedication, expertise, and resilience — all amazing traits. But it can be a double-edged sword. While these qualities drive exceptional patient care and innovation, they also contribute to high levels of stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue among healthcare workers.

Understanding Compassion Fatigue

Compassion fatigue is a term that describes the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of helping others. Compassion fatigue is often mistaken for burnout, which is the cumulative sense of fatigue and dissatisfaction. While compassion fatigue is a form of burnout, it is distinct in its focus on the impact of helping others. Some signs of compassion fatigue include:

• Feelings of helplessness and powerlessness in the face of patient suffering
• Reduced feelings of empathy and sensitivity
• Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted by work demands
• Feeling detached, numb, and emotionally disconnected

Recognizing its signs and implementing proactive strategies such as regular breaks, peer support, and self-care practices can mitigate its effects. Give yourself time to recharge and spend learning mindfulness to ground yourself.

Other strategies include:

• Spend some time alone in mindfulness meditation to ground yourself in the moment. Think of things that bring you joy, and hope.
• Being in the medical field there are just some things that will be out of your control which will increase that feeling of helplessness and powerlessness. Focus on things that you can control. These might be small actions, like making a patient feel more comfortable, ensuring clear communication, or taking moments to breathe and reset during a busy day.
• Remember to recharge your batteries daily. Do something that will reduce your stress. If that means sitting down and watching a movie, do that. A light and regular exercise regime can reduce stress and help you achieve your balance. Or even going out with some friends to wind down.

Tips to Help Mental Health

To foster a supportive environment for junior lawyers, law firms can implement several strategies:

1. Prioritize Self Care
   

   Healthcare workers constantly put their patient's well being over their own. However, in order to improve your physical and mental well-being a little self-care is essential. Prioritize yourself with adequate sleep, eating healthy, and engaging in regular physical activity that you enjoy. Sound familiar? An age old lecture from doctor to patient, and yet healthcare workers struggle with this advice—understandably so. However, when it comes to mental and physical well-being a good tip can be summarized in one word: preparation.

   Prepare to: Sleep

   Create a sleeping routine. This may mean winding down, and putting down your phone 10 minutes before you go to bed. Listening to something relaxing while reading a book. Make a routine and stick to it so that you can get 7-8 hours of rest before your shift starts.

   Prepare to: Eat

   Meal Prep. It's tiring all on its own but if done, meals won't be something you'll need to think about for the week. Good nutrition will fuel your body through your shift and keep it going no matter what gets thrown at you.

   Prepare to: Exercise

   This is probably the last thing any healthcare worker wants to do after a long day, but workouts don't need to be intense. Keep it light, find a goal that you can work towards. This could be to increase your flexibility, or to keep your shoulders limber. Make a schedule and a goal, and stick to it

2. Seeking Support
   

   In a CBC interview a healthcare professional stated that, “Often healthcare workers are not explicit when they need help.” This could be for a number of reasons, though one of them could be that they do not want to burden their colleagues or mentors with more. The pandemic itself has left a lasting impact on medical workers at home and at work, many of them stating that they're leaving the pandemic worse than they were when they entered it. Seeing many patients die in a short amount of time has impacted them in ways that only other healthcare workers understand can be very isolating feelings. Without support, healthcare workers can spiral into over-reliance on self-treatment, substance abuse, a decline in mental/physical well-being, and increase in risk of suicide.

   Reach out.

   Seek support from colleagues, mentors, or professional counsellors. Establish a support network that understands the unique challenges of the medical profession in Canada. According to the NCBI, mental health stigmatisation is also inward facing this can lead to health professionals who do not seak help or will not disclose mental health problems which can result in over-reliance on self-treatment, low peer support and a risk of declining mental health which increases the risk of suicide.

3. Setting Boundaries
   

   Being in the healthcare industry means that people need you, sometimes at all times of the day. This can be exhausting, but this means that boundaries need to be set. There may be a constant barrage of emails, texts and being on the clock 24/7 can be tiring. However, the reverse can also be detrimental. A burnout healthcare provider / professional / worker are also at risk to themselves and to their patients. Learn to set boundaries between work and personal life. Prioritize time for hobbies, relaxation, and spending time with loved ones to maintain a balanced lifestyle. Take time to totally unplug and take a break.

Conclusion

Above all, be kind to yourself. Prioritizing mental health in the Canadian medical field is essential, and sometimes even the best doctors forget that. Make time for yourself and the things you enjoy. Set boundaries to protect your personal time, seek support from colleagues and professionals, and don't hesitate to take breaks when needed. Remember, taking care of your own well-being enables you to provide the best care for your patients.

If you want to help make a difference, Tracument is currently hosting a fundraiser to help the Distress Centres of Toronto who also staff the Suicide Crisis Helpline. If you'd like to donate please visit Walk to End Suicide to make a donation. Thank you for your support!

Resources for Support

Help is always available:

• Access CMHA for any mental resources needed.
• If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide call or text 9-8-8. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Speak to a helpline counsellor.
• Mental Health support for the different provinces and territories.
• Wellness Together Canada: Offers free, confidential mental health and substance use support, including one-on-one counselling, self-guided resources, and peer support.
• Mental Health Commissions Canada: Offers resources and initiatives specifically designed to support mental health in the workplace, including training programs like The Working Mind.

If you're in immediate danger or need urgent medical support, call 9-1-1.