There’s been much talk about the impact of self-isolation on the mental health of people young and old, but healthcare workers on the frontline are at risk in a different way as they are being required to work in a potentially dangerous environment every day, putting themselves and their families at risk.
With health workers facing these unprecedented challenges, a new international service has been launched to offer support to medical professionals and all hospital workers/ carers at the forefront of the Coronavirus emergency.
The Worldwide Empathy for Medics (WEM) - www.wem.icu - links medical staff and health workers with empathic listeners, recognising the urgent need for all round wellbeing and regeneration for carers.
Set up by training centre, Blabla - House for Connection in Belgium - WEM has accumulated 155 voluntary listeners internationally with 95 of them currently available to service healthcare professionals in English.
Available 24 hours a day, via its international online platform, healthcare staff can find someone in the world ready to receive a call, via phone, Skype or WhatsApp to speak to about the very real and heightened concerns whilst working during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The multi-lingual service offers free anonymous and unlimited listening, whenever, and for as long, and as often as the person calling need and wants it. The kindness of strangers will support us all to be connected and united in our response to this crisis.
The website is available in five languages, and listeners speak English, Spanish, Hindi French, German, Polish, Danish, Dutch and Italian with more to come. Medical and healthcare professionals can simply search to find out who is online and link up with someone ready to listen.
WEM Co-ordinator and Psychologist, Shona Cameron, explains: “Carers need care too, now even more than ever. We know that many will be in need of support, a place to recharge the batteries or simply someone to confide in, even for just a few minutes. To be heard by someone with empathic listening skills is often described as “liberating” and “empowering”. We want everyone to know that they can call at any time. We don't want anyone to go home in tears alone.”
WEM co-founder, Corrylaura van Bladel (Blabla) adds: “The idea came about when my doctor friend, Luc Peetermans, was struggling with the Covid-19 outbreak and asked for a helpline in Belgium for those in the healthcare sector. I realised this was going to be a worldwide issue, so I set out to create something that can respond globally and quickly.
“We know that health workers are facing unprecedented challenges and are dealing with traumatic circumstances, making life or death decisions every day, long hours and separation from their families in addition to putting them at risk. Unfortunately, many will also suffer from PTSD - post traumatic stress disorder - as a result of the intensity of the situation. This is more or less a war zone environment.”
Related stories:
NHS launches mental health hotline for staff tackling COVID-19
Taking care of our NHS staff during Coronavirus
Project5 pledges free mental health support for the NHS workforce
Guidance for psychological welfare of healthcare workers released by BPS
