Mental Health for First Responders, Front line and Essential Workers

Hello! We hope that everyone has been safe and healthy during these difficult times. This is certainly an unexpected event that is trying both our physical and mental healths. For tips on the coronavirus and your mental health, look to the previous post on our blog!
Today, we would like to pay special attention to the first responders, front liners, and essential workers of COVID-19. First and importantly, we would like to thank them for their services, and for sacrificing sleep, health, time, and well-being for all of us. They are the true meaning of heroes.
Secondly, being a mental health practice, we would like to call attention to the stress and potential trauma this pandemic may have on our brave heroes. With the chaos of this time, first responders and other front liners are bound to experience "stress, anxiety, fear, and other strong emotions". Additionally, burnout, "compassion fatigue", vicarious traumatization, and PTSD may arise.
The CDC has established a page specifically for stress and coping in our healthcare workers (and other essential workers). They offer symptoms of stress to look out for as well as tips for coping with the stress. A few of these include:

• Communicating with coworkers, supervisors, and employees about job stress
• Keeping a consistent daily routine as much as possible that includes sleep, meals, and breaks for rest
• Taking breaks from the news and social media
• Engaging in mindfulness techniques such as breathing exercises and meditation
• Continuing (or starting) mental health treatment and to talk about new or worsening symptoms

On this page, The CDC also lists numerous online and phone lines for those who need or know someone who needs help. Here is the link:

CDC Stress & Coping in Healthcare

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/mental-health-healthcare.html 

Mind Body Co-op would like to again thank everyone who is doing their part, large or small, during COVID-19. We especially thank all first responders, front liners, and essential workers for their resilience and bravery.

Safety and health to all,
Mind Body Co-op