Psychological resilience, fragility and the health workforce

COVID-19 presents a time to redefine vulnerability; however, in discussions of vulnerability, the health workforce, particularly in regard to their psychosocial well-being, is often forgotten. Healthcare workers (HCWs) in fragile settings are constantly exposed to health system shocks, including; conflict, disease outbreaks and natural disasters, which compound the everyday challenges of working in an under-resourced health system. Based on a commitment to serve their communities, they often cope with repeated shocks and protracted crises through innovation and creative thinking….

Cultivating resilience

How do we adjust and reset when confronted with adversity?  Have you ever wondered why some of us have the tenacity to ground ourselves more rapidly than others when confronted by a tragic loss or event?

It’s a fact that we will be exposed to stress across the domains in which work, live or socialise, particularly during these challenging times. This is why resilience is crucial, as it helps us to bounce back and ground ourselves when facing hardship or adversity and allows us to thrive, recover and continue.

Health Direct defines resilience as “the ability to cope with unexpected changes and challenges in your life. It’s not always possible to prevent stressful or adverse situations”.

Resilience is a commodity in high demand in 2020, but how do we cultivate it?  Well, you’ll be pleased to know there are many ways to boost your resilience, so let’s look at some key fundamentals that can assist you in this process…

Post-Traumatic Growth Might Be the Silver Lining of Trauma — Here’s How to Harness It

Though the term post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) wasn’t officially added to the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-3) until 1980, psychologists have known about the very tangible negative physical and psychological consequences of trauma for centuries.

Accounts of trauma date back to the Civil War and earlier, and current events such as the coronavirus pandemic continue to give rise to traumatic times. About half of Americans say the coronavirus crisis is harming their mental health, per a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, and experts say that issues like getting kids back to school, paying rent, or taking care of parents can extend the trauma people feel from the pandemic, upping the likelihood of mental illness…