NAMI is partnering with #FirstRespondersFirst to raise awareness about the importance of mental health in frontline health care and public safety professionals. In today’s blog, Alexandra Hayes writes about identifying signs of stress and simple strategies to help reduce stress before burnout takes over.
As a first responder — whether you’re a home health aide, social worker, community health worker, nurse, or physician — you know that stress is a part of the job, and you likely have some strategies to keep yours at bay. But in the face of today’s unprecedented health crisis, your stress levels may reach new heights as you take on the responsibility of helping at the front lines.
When left unmanaged, chronic stress can weaken your immune system, lead to burnout, and rob you of the reason you wanted to do this critical work in the first place. You can’t control a lot when it comes to this virus, like the exposure you have to other people’s suffering, or how many patients you may need to treat with the resources you have, but with the right strategies, you can change how you respond to these distressing situations.