Situation Report | March 22, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused untold levels of stress — and none are more affected than essential personnel in health care.
HCA reminds providers of the following HCA webinars and outside resources to help your organization address anxiety and stress within your agency’s workforce, clients, and families.
- Webinar on COVID-19 Recovery: Psychosocial Challenges for Patients and Caregivers. This webinar is part of our Best-Practices series. Presenter Rachel Potter, LCSW of the Mt. Sinai Respiratory Institute specifically discusses the support group model for families, patients and caregivers during COVID-19. She outlines the various psychosocial challenges faced by individuals recovering from COVID-19 as well as the impact of providing care to COVID-19 patients and the need for providers to practice self-care. You can register for this webinar and all 12 in our Best Practices series here. After registering, please see Chapter 5.
- Webinar on Psychological First Aid: Supporting Others in Managing Stress. This archive webinar from our Home Care and Hospice Emergency Preparedness Conference (in October) features psychologist Dr. Karla Vermeulen. She examines an important model, called Psychological First Aid, to reach staff who need help, recognize and validate their thoughts and feelings, connect them with supports, and more. You can watch the webinar on demand by registering here.
- COVID-19 counseling and emotional support helpline through Project Hope. NY Project Hope is a program of the state Office of Mental Health and is funded by FEMA. It helps New Yorkers understand their reaction and emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals can contact the Emotional Support Helpline at 1-844-863-9314 to reach a trained crisis counselor seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The calls are free, confidential, and anonymous. New Yorkers can also visit NY Project Hope’s website to find resources, strategies, and tips to help cope during COVID-19.
- Mental Health America resources specifically for health care workers. Mental Health America has a website of resources with topics like Combatting Sleep Difficulties For Health Care Workers, The Emotional Weight Of Supporting Dying Patients, Being The Partner of a Health Care Worker, Dealing With COVID-19 Vaccine Anxiety, and more.