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Nurse Awareness and Prevention: The Effect of COVID-19 on Nurses' Mental Health

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The pandemic has had a significant emotional and mental impact on healthcare professionals, notably nurses. Throughout the outbreak, highly skilled nursing personnel, many of whom had limited experience with infectious diseases, have been subjected to great strain while delivering critical nursing care. 

Pressures In The Profession
These pressures include the possibility of contracting COVID-19 due to a lack of protective equipment, verbal and physical abuse from concerned healthcare consumers, working in understaffed clinical environments, and the fear of infecting family members. There have been accounts of nurses committing suicide as a result of these factors, and suicidal thoughts appear to have grown during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Burnout At Work
Burnout is a psychological illness that occurs when people are subjected to a high-stress work environment with insufficient resources. Suicidal thoughts were shown to be higher in those who had burnout than in those who did not. Similarly, even in the absence of depressive symptoms, exhaustion was predictive of suicide ideation.

To avoid the unforeseen impacts of weariness and burnout, healthcare employees, including surgical trainees, physician assistants, psychiatrists, and nurses, must establish a balance between reasonable working hours and high-quality patient care.

Getting Rid of the Stigma
The stigma of obtaining mental health therapy has yet to be eradicated. Given the higher suicide rate among nurses, there is a need to shift perspectives and normalize discussions about mental health and wellness. Create environments of acceptance and empathy inside healthcare companies, and communicate to colleagues that it's alright not to be okay. Although not every suicide can be prevented, acknowledging that suicide occurs is a critical step toward prevention.

Suicide Prevention Services for Nurses
As the world and healthcare institutions deal with the aftermath of the 2019 Coronavirus pandemic, it will likely make an impact on the mental health of all healthcare professionals who are faced with the reality of limited resources and unthinkable choices, working to exhaustion, and caring for patients while putting their own lives in danger. Fear and uncertainty about the new virus, its devastating consequences, exhausting working hours in the hospital, countless deaths, and a lack of PPE were all significant setbacks for the healthcare system, leading to emotional stress and depressive symptoms among HCWs during the early stages of the pandemic.

Medical institutions and healthcare departments around the world will need to build comprehensive suicide prevention and mental health promotion policies. Help and wellness programs for all healthcare workers, lifestyle and mental health exams, and appropriate referrals for support or treatment are all important components. At-risk behaviors should ideally be recognized by mental health screening, and interventions should begin as soon as feasible through improving access to and communication with the mental health network.

Suicide is a serious public health problem. It has long-term ramifications for individuals, families, and society. Suicide prevention requires efforts at all levels of society. If someone has suicidal thoughts, listen to them and take their concerns seriously. Do not be scared to inquire about their plans. Tell the person that you care about them and that they are not alone. Encourage them to get quick assistance from a skilled professional. Don't abandon them.

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