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| Source: ohsonline.com |
Over the
past few months, Britain, along with rest of the world, have developed a new
found appreciation for society’s key workers, a list including; those in the
health and social sector, teaching and childcare staff, those working in
transport and public services, those involved in the production, distribution and
sale of food, and government officials among many others.
On the 8th
April, the NHS announced a mental health hotline that had been launched to
support the 1.4 million NHS staff as they work to manage infections and prevent
deaths. The Chief People Officer for the NHS, Prerana Issar stated: “We need to
do everything we can to support our incredible NHS people as they care for
people through this global health emergency.”
While
mainstream media has been quick to label these individuals as ‘heroes’, particularly
those at the NHS frontline, there has been a severely underwhelming amount of
reporting and coverage about the mental health implications regarding these
workers.
The consequences
of this? NHS staff and other keyworkers may feel less inclined to speak up on
their true feelings and the experiences that they face at work.
Dr Esther
Murray, from the Queen Mary University of London spoke on labelling these
people as ‘heroes’, saying: “It also makes it harder for NHS staff to talk
about how they really feel because opinions get polarised – are you a hero or a
coward? A lot of staff like cowards but they are not at all, they’re quite
justifiably frightened and angry.”
Its disappointing
to see just how little this is being spoken about. The media need to address
the fears and concerns that keyworkers are facing. Workers fear catching the
disease themselves, many are afraid of what they are bringing into their homes and
around their families. Many NHS workers will have been overwhelmed with
witnessing a much higher number of deaths than they have perhaps experiences in
their whole working lives. This can all very quickly lead anxiety, extreme
stress, depression, and psychological distress.
This brings me to what media is focusing on. As a
nation we have seen many shared gestures, the ‘NHS Clap’, public buildings
being lit up with blue lights, and whilst these are crucial to uplifting members
of the health care service, yet this needs to be met with an equally public understanding
that the expectations we have of the NHS and keyworkers are extremely overwhelming
for someone to endure.
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| Source: liverpoolbidcompany.com |
Just as we
have seen hundreds of campaigns to support the physical health of keyworkers
with the correct and consistent supply and distribution of PPE, there should be
just as much awareness being raised about the mental health of these people.
Mental health does not come after physical health.
Of course, keyworkers should be admired, they are working around the clock under unprecedented
conditions to create as much normalcy as possible, but society and media need
to understand that placing them on the pedestal as a ‘hero’ runs the risk of making
them feel that they are responsible for what is out of their control. Remember,
this is a new disease, we are learning every day about the best way to move forward
and protect the public.
I hope to
see much more appreciation from acclaimed journalists, the media and the public
for the implications and effects on the health of keyworkers in all different
aspects.
Thank you for reading!
Aman
