A new study has shed light on the toll the pandemic is taking on Ireland’s frontline staff.
One young doctor said she was having “suicidal thoughts” as a result of the crisis; while a care worker who felt pressurised to go without PPE into the room of a patient who had tested positive, developed symptoms of post-traumatic stress “consistent with a near-death experience” and had to give up work.
Both women were among about 100 healthcare workers who got confidential trauma therapy sessions in a bid to help them cope with the fallout of being on the front line.
The drive was organised by Trauma Response Network Ireland (TRNi) as part of a study to better understand the trauma and suffering being experienced by many frontline workers during the pandemic.
Trauma Response Network Ireland offers free Trauma Intervention Treatment for front line and essential workers impacted by Covid-19 pandemic
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Trauma Response Network Ireland, a panel of accredited therapists inviting front-line workers to seek free treatment for the trauma they have experienced during the pandemic to avoid chronic symptoms that could be long lasting or cause burn out.
National Coordinator of Trauma Response Network Ireland, Johnny Moran said: ”It’s not at all uncommon for people to downplay the traumatic nature of the current global pandemic. Experiencing feelings that it might just be “part of the job”. But you don’t have to experience violence to experience trauma.