Subjective impact of COVID-19 pandemic among mental health service workers in Argentina

Abstract

Introduction: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health workers has been studied on an international level. However, mental health workers, who are also called upon to address such ailments both in the general population as well as in the health personnel, have not been asked about their experiences. Methods: Seventy mental health workers in five regions of Argentina were interviewed between May and June 2020 regarding the subjective impact of changes in their work due to the pandemic. The responses were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Results: The results indicate emotions and experiences associated with a negative impact, in connection to feelings of tiresome, uncertainty, fear, anguish and anxiety and, to a lesser extent, some positive impacts are also described. More than a third of participants mentioned mixed feelings (i.e., being surprised, ambivalent, alert
and sensitive). Conclusions: The personnel who
are supposed to support the rest of the health workers are affected and experience having been relegated one more time to other aspects within the health care system. Focusing on learnings,
having management roles, counting on colleagues, and agreeing with macro policies could be protective factors against the difficulties
associated with the changes in work that the pandemic has imposed.