Table 2.

Themes and subthemes

Themes	Subthemes
Theme 1: mental health impact of COVID-19 on healthcare professionals	1.1 Fear of infection, isolation and stigma 1.2 Stress due to poor availability of personal protective equipment 1.3 Anxiety due to uncertainty of COVID-19 1.4 Anxiety and nervousness due to media exaggeration 1.5 Excessive workload
Theme 2: mental health needs of the health workforce involved in the COVID-19 crisis and available support from the health system	2.1 Need to provide counselling services and safe working conditions 2.2 Need for paid rest periods, timely payment of workers’ salaries and incentives 2.3 Need of appreciation and motivation to work in the pandemic
Theme 3: suggestions to address the mental health needs of healthcare professionals	3.1 Establish mental health services to address the mental needs of health workers 3.2 Conduct formal training of health managers in managing mental health needs 3.3 Assess and address mental needs of the health workforce