The Mental Health of Frontline Workers Is Declining
How frontline workers are fighting two pandemics
—By Sara Sherazi
The Covid-19 pandemic has severely impacted the healthcare system, but most importantly, the mental and physical health of frontline workers. When the pandemic hit, frontline workers were praised for their bravery and courage in protecting the health of the general public. They were labeled as “heroes” for risking their health to care for others. fro
Now, 24 months into the pandemic, these frontline workers are no longer considered America’s heroes. Instead, they are receiving threats and facing harassment in the fight against the pandemic. Currently, there is a lot of general mistrust in the health field due to the focus on vaccinations, wearing masks, and reaching herd immunity. The fight to reach normalcy, whenever that will be, has put a toll on the mental and physical health of many healthcare workers. Despite the hardships they have faced and are facing, these frontline workers have continued to ensure that the patients’ needs are met.
Although doctors and nurses receive most of the public recognition for their critical role in fighting the pandemic, other frontline workers, like Zahraa Altimemy, a healthcare administrator at Michigan Medicine, are essential for a strong healthcare system, especially during these unprecedented times. As a healthcare administrator, Altimemy regularly interacts with doctors, nurses, surgeons, technicians, and other healthcare staff members. “I evaluate hospital employees such as doctors or nurses and work on overall management policies to create a structured healthcare system,” reports Altimemy. Although she does not meet regularly with patients, Altimemy has seen the shift in policies that run the facility to ensure the best patient and guest experience in a hospital. This pandemic, however, has created a multitude of challenges for healthcare professionals as they are expected to navigate and manage through change and uncertainty.
We’re not even getting respect
The Covid-19 pandemic has not been easy on all of us. Frontline workers are under immense pressure to figure out how to cope with what is considered the new normal. “It’s very overwhelming with the amount that we go through every day,” reports Altimemy, who has been at Michigan Medicine for four years. “People don’t acknowledge the work we do along with doctors and nurses. The thing is we’re not even getting respect.”
Looking back on how life was before the pandemic, many frontline workers have reported that their mental health has worsened drastically. The people who provide care and service are not able to perform at their best because of their work conditions. “Mentally, it is a challenge for us. I have been so overwhelmed throughout all of this and I can definitely see the burnout that frontline workers are experiencing. At the end of the day, we are so tired, and it breaks us down.”
Many frontline workers have considered a different career path for more advanced opportunities, better pay and benefits, work-life balance, as well as other personal reasons. On the other hand, some frontline workers would not change their career paths despite the hardships they are currently facing. “This is what my true passion is,” says Altimemy. “I don’t see myself doing anything else, and even though we’re in unprecedented times and facing such hardships, this is where I belong. I know that I can find an easier job, but this is where my heart is.” It has been a difficult time for frontline workers to decide between their passion and flexible working conditions; however, this should not be the case.
We need to find a solution
The ones who have done their part in this pandemic by being vaccinated and boosted, maintaining social distance, and wearing a mask have lifted a weight for many healthcare workers. They are doing their best to minimize the spread of Covid. “If I didn’t love what I do, I could have walked away. But that’s not me. The patients deserve better,” reports Altimemy. “I love being able to provide help for those in need, but we also need to find a solution to protect our workers during a pandemic.” Even though the demand for frontline jobs is increasing, it seems as though the concerns of the workers are not prioritized. Now more than ever, these workers are in dire need of support, worker protection, and equitable opportunities.
While frontline workers have kept the economy running, many workers state that they do not feel like they are heard. Communication with management has been an issue for far too long and the pandemic has only exacerbated it. Altimemy states, “It shouldn’t take a global pandemic for us to get recognized, considering we are the heart of the hospital. It’s something that should’ve been happening a long time ago.”
Moving forward
As the pandemic continues and more mutations arise, it is important to know what to do to help the frontline workers in this fight. “Wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance, and get vaccinated,” says Altimemy. “The faster that we can reach herd immunity, the sooner we will be able to reach normalcy and return back to our routines.” With limited beds, many hospitals do not have enough resources to provide care to the public. To avoid overwhelming the healthcare system, the frontline healthcare workers need support. They cannot protect the public until they are protected.
When frontline workers are not heard, it can lead to burnout, discontinuity of workers that are truly passionate in the health field, and a lack of high-quality care that patients need. Therefore, it is critical that frontline workers are heard and their voices are amplified. “We have more power in numbers, so the more people we get to support our needs for worker protections, the better it will be for the future of healthcare,” notes Altimemy.
It can be difficult to stay hopeful and see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we have to stand behind the people who protect us. Frontline workers deserve solidarity and better protection rights, not just recognition.