UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga Faculty of Nursing (FKp UNAIR) held a guest lecture by Dr. Sandeep Poddar from Lincoln University College, Malaysia, on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, via Zoom Meeting. The guest lecture attended by 14th batch of nursing master’s students was themed “Frontline Nurses Facing Enormous Mental Health Challenges, Anxiety and Depression Can Affect Nurse Wellbeing During and After Work”.
In his presentation, Dr. Sandeep said that along with the rising confirmed cases of Covid-19, mental health problems for medical personnel, especially nurses should get attention because nurses were at the forefront of Covid-19 handling.
“With Covid-19 cases continue to increase, it makes nurses more likely to be exposed to infection because they treat patients directly and work longer hours than usual. Thus, not a few nurses experience depression,” he said.
Dr. Sandeep explained that the sources of stressors experienced by nurses during the Covid-19 pandemic include long working hours, concerns about the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), concerns about personal and family health, socio-economic conditions, and moral pressure felt by nurses.
“High stressors not only cause acute or short-term psychological disorders, but can also be chronic or prolonged psychological disorders,” he explained.
Furthermore, an important thing according to Sandeep is that awareness of mental health among health workers, especially nurses, must be improved. Increasing discussion about mental health among nurses will provide insight that experiencing psychological disorders is normal.
“Frequent discussion with friends and professionals is one way to manage depression. Then, following advice and recommendations from national and local authorities is effective, by following trusted television channels or social media such as WHO’s, “he said.
Having consistent routines to avoid unnecessary activities and to achieve certain goals that you want to achieve is one way that needs to be done to minimize stress.
“Allocating time for work and rest, doing things you like, and having a daily routine such as getting up and sleeping at the same time every day, maintaining personal hygiene, eating healthy food regularly, and exercising regularly can be used as a way to get rid of stress, “he explained.
Minimizing watching news that cause anxiety and depression and taking a break from the news for a while is the best approach that can be taken. Then, maintaining regular contact with close people over the phone or online can be a stepping stone if you have completed all of your daily activities.
“Change the activity of reading news into another activity. This method not only distracts your mind, but also helps regulate your emotions and make positive connections. Then, try to watch less news that makes you feel anxious or depressed, “he said.
Sandeep says spreading positive and hopeful stories can also motivate colleagues and friends in the profession.
“Use your social media accounts to promote positive and hopeful stories. And correct misinformation wherever you see it, “he said.
In the end, Sandeep said that psychological disorders in nurses do not only occur when exposed to stressors, but can also continue to become chronic psychological disorders if they are not treated early on.
“Immediate and appropriate steps must be made to improve mental health services of nurses. Even though the nursing profession is based on the principle of altruism, nurses are not martyrs in this pandemic, “he concluded.
Author: Adelya Salsabila Putri
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
