The article by Chirico, Nucera, and Magnavita focuses on the mental health of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic. They highlight how this pandemic has raised their levels of anxiety, stress, depression, and overall distress. The authors mention how nurses and doctors have experienced high levels of fear, anxiety, stress, and depression. High incidences of anxiety and stress disorders among front-line medical staff has been revealed amidst many healthcare workers . Some things that have factors in these disorders include lack of preparedness, stressful working conditions resulting from lack of training, shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), shortages of healthcare personnel, lack of effective treatments, shortages of equipment, disconnection from families for safety, and having to watch people die alone. It has also been noted that these components have caused ethical dilemmas leading to moral injury which is linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The article “Supporting the well-being of healthcare workers during and after COVID-19” byt Kinman, Teoh, and Harriss explores the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) as well as some things that are in place to help HCWs. HCWs are of grave concern as they are given the key role in managing the outbreak. Some problems such as depression, anxiety, insomnia distress, risk of trauma and suicide were high among some HCWs, particular with those working directly with COVID-19 patients. Key components included working long hours, lack of support and vital equipment, feelings of vulnerability or loss of control, concerns about health of oneself and one’s family and feeling isolated factors. Workers have been found to be at high risk of work-related stress and burnout due to increasing demands and diminishing staffing. Staff are also having to cope with additional challenges such as encountering unfamiliar working environments, changing protocols and an unprecedented exposure to trauma with little opportunity for orientation and training. Though this tough time, healthcare workers have had access to many resources such as helplines, online therapy and group counselling sessions, and access to online tools to help manage symptoms such as anxiety and sleeping difficulties.

The article "University of Colorado Boulder: 6 Lessons We Can Learn From Past Pandemics; TOPIC1: Research." by Lisa Marshall explores six things we can learn from past pandemics. In this article, Marshall talks with CU Boulder Professors Elizabeth Fenn and Susan Kent. Past illnesses are brought up such as the Spanish Influenza of 1918, Cholera in the 1830s, HIV-AIDS in the 1980s, and Smallpox from 1775 to 1782. From this, Kent and Fenn compose six lessons that could be learned from the past diseases. The six lessons are names matter, social distancing works, viruses don’t spare the young, inoculation works, don’t blame the sick, and this can end. Although all are important, a few are more important and relevant today with COVID-19. Particularly social distancing works, inoculation works, and this can end.

Just like the article by Lisa Marshall, the article “5 Hard-Earned Lessons from Past Pandemics How do populations survive a pandemic? History offers some strategies.” by Jessica Pearce Rotondi discusses five lessons that could be learned and applied to today’s pandemic. In this article, the past pandemics looked at are the bubonic plague of the 1600s, tuberculosis in the early 1900s, the Spanish flu of 1918, and the Italian plague from 1629-1631.The five lessons include quarantine, socially distancing food and drink pick up, mask-wearing, washing hands and surfaces, and fresh air and adaptive schooling. When these five lessons are mentioned in the article, a past plague is pointed out first, then how the concept applied and worked during that time. From there, it draws a connection to today’s COVID-19 and discusses how it could be applied and work today.

“Supporting the Mental Health of Health Workers during COVID-19” is a report of a workshop that explores some of the experiences of healthcare workers in Vietnam and discusses strategies to support their mental health and wellbeing. focuses on the mental strains health care workers face. It also mentions a few ways that they can alleviate that strain and how it works. The article highlights the main mental hurdles which are stress, pressure, and fear. These are caused by Fear of spreading within the community, workloads, fear of being infected, and confusing and changing policies. The article then went into how healthcare workers can engage in mindfulness practices which would allow them to be aware and reduce stress. In the US, many healthcare facilities offer help through a psychiatrist or psychologist. In Vietnam, they have other ways such as the mindfulness practice. Some techniques include, connecting with the body and connecting with the breath, walking, nourishing joy and happiness, self-compassion, and sharing and reflecting.

The article “Symptoms related to mental disorder in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil” is a study that covers nurses, doctors, and dentists. It mentions their stress, anxiety, and depression. Although, the nurses and doctors work the direct frontlines, dentists are the most at risk. Dentists work directly with the oral cavity of patients, and that is the easiest way to contract the virus. Due to this, many dental offices stopped their practices. Many hospitals focused on emergency and COVID-19 related patients. Dentists were advised to do the same and only provide care to emergency dental care. All three fields positions, and many more, have to change their work routine just like anything else. Support strategies must be implemented now and for the future. Doing so would decrease the mental distress the pandemic has caused on healthcare workers which would also do so in the general population as well.