How frontline workers can take care of their mental health, avoid burnout
TEMPLE, Texas — Medical professionals have been on the front lines to fight COVID-19 for almost a year. According to multiple studies, it has taken a toll on people’s mental health. In this week’s “Your Best Life,” 6 News Anchor Leslie Draffin spoke with a Dallas-based clinical psychologist about how to combat burnout and stress, especially if you’re a frontline worker.
According to a mental health survey of healthcare workers who help fight COVID-19 right now, 93% are stressed, 86% are experiencing anxiety, 77% report frustration, 76% are exhausted and burned out and 75% are overwhelmed.
“We’re not usually part of the story,” said Dr. Kevin Gilliland, a Dallas-based clinical psychologist. “There are times in our life that we’re going through something similar to our patients. But now, everybody that comes in, we’re all part of the same stories. We’re all wrestling with some of the same issues and so that really starts to take a toll on us because those are the conversations that we have every day at work, and then we go home and have the same conversation so it’s like we don’t get away from it.”
Dr. Gilliland has helped clients battle burnout during the pandemic. He said, “It’s always physical and it’s always psychological. It doesn’t matter what you do for a living. The symptoms look the same.”
Watch the video.