Box 1.

Tips and resources

For the health funders and the health managers

1. Preparation and training in dealing with COVID-19 infected

2. Regular screening of stress, depression, and anxiety among the health-care workers and their families who might be worried about their loved ones working with COVID-19 patients

3. Provide CBT/mindfulness-based stress management training as a prevention measure. This can be delivered in groups, self-help, or online format

4. Develop a team to provide online counseling

5. Provide rooms for rest for the staff in hospitals

For health workers

1. Self-awareness – self-care starts with self-awareness

2. Develop a routine – proper sleep/diet and regular exercise

3. Connect and communicate with people around – both at work and home

4. Spirituality – religion, mindfulness, and yoga

5. Build on existing coping skills

6. Psychological techniques – CBT to help change your perspective, e.g., rather than focusing on the number of casualties consider the number of people who are recovering from COVID-19

Note: If you are providing telemedicine services – consider maintaining a routine, do physical exercise, and have appropriate calories intake

Useful online resources for health professionals

https://www.who.int/publications-detail/mental-health-and-psychosocial-considerations-during-the-covid-19-outbreak

https://www.wpanet.org/covid-19-resources

https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/covid-19-coronavirus

https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/about-us/responding-to-covid-19

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html

https://wfmh.global/mental-health-considerations-during-covid-19-outbreak

CBT – Cognitive behavior therapy