Library resource guides: COVID-19 resources: Wellbeing

Guide index

Related guides

Drs health & well-being

ANZCA Drs health & wellbeing

Healthy doctors ensure a sustainable workforce that provides best patient care. Find out what we're doing to support our doctors' health and wellbeing, and the services and resources available to our fellows, trainees, specialist international medical graduates and immediate family members.

Doctors' health and wellbeing (ANZCA)
ANZCA's dedicated Doctors' health and wellbeing page, which outlines the Doctors' Health and Wellbeing Framework, as well as other resources to support doctors and integrate supportive mechanisms within organisations.
ANZCA Doctors' Support Program
The ANZCA Doctors' Support Program (DSP) is a professional counselling service that offers confidential, short-term support for a variety of work-related and personal problems that may be affecting you at work or at home.
Long Lives, Healthy Workplaces toolkit
This toolkit is a resource to support anaesthesia departments and individual anaesthetists to operationalise a framework they can put into action.
LLHW Implementation Group
The Long Lives, Healthy Workplaces Toolkit Steering Group has prepared supplementary resources that we hope will help you to navigate the toolkit, and plan and implement a wellbeing strategy for your workplace.

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If you are aware of any other resources you'd like to add, please email the library with details.

Podcast: COVID-19 Mini-Series - Physician Wellness

Stanford Medcast Episode 18: COVID-19 Mini-Series - Physician Wellness
This episode will address physician wellness and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physicians and other members of the health care team. Burnout is an ongoing issue in health care, but the pandemic escalated the problem even more. Participants will learn about the challenges members of the health care team have faced since the beginning of the pandemic, and the factors involved in reducing the risk for burnout, including development of a culture of wellness, personal resilience and efficiency of practice. Dr Daniel J. Murphy, Jr. outlines strategies to improve wellness through development of adequate resources, support from leadership and good communication and listening skills.

Latest eBooks

The COVID-19 Crisis: Social Perspectives by Deborah Lupton; Karen Willis [eds]
ISBN: 9781003111344
Publication Date: 2021-04-20
Since its emergence in early 2020, the COVID-19 crisis has affected every part of the world. Well beyond its health effects, the pandemic has wrought major changes in people's everyday lives as they confront restrictions imposed by physical distancing and consequences such as loss of work, working or learning from home and reduced contact with family and friends. This edited collection covers a diverse range of experiences, practices and representations across international contexts and cultures (UK, Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand).

Looking after your mental wellbeing

Looking after your mental wellbeing (ANZCA Wellbeing)
During our response to Covid 19, many of us will be feeling anxious, uncertain or over-whelmed. Remember we are all in this together. The Wellbeing Special Interest Group has some tips to help you carry on and to look after yourself.

Resources

APS: Tips for coping with coronavirus anxiety
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The Australian Psychological Society has prepared a guide for Australians, outlining some useful strategies which can help both adults and children cope with the stress or anxiety experienced as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
CSTS: Sustaining the Well-Being of Healthcare Personnel during Coronavirus and other Infectious Disease Outbreaks
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The extreme stress, uncertainty, and often difficult medical nature of global infectious disease outbreaks, such as Coronavirus (COVID-19), require special attention to the needs of healthcare personnel. Taking care of yourself and encouraging others to practice self-care sustains the ability to care for those in need.

A page containing CSTS fact sheets and other resources to support the health and well-being of communities impacted by COVID-19 can be found here.

'FACE COVID' - How to respond effectively to the Corona crisis by Dr Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap ‘FACE COVID’ is a set of practical steps for responding effectively to the Corona crisis, using the principles of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Here’s a quick summary of the key steps, and in the pages that follow we’ll explore them all in more depth:
IASC: Briefing note on addressing mental health and psychosocial aspects of COVID-19 Outbreak (Version 1.1) This briefing note summarises key mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) considerations in relation to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The brief was last updated February 2020.

Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria: For survivors during coronavirus
ICS: Wellbeing Resource Library We care about your experience of your everyday working life in critical care. We know that sustaining the wellbeing of our staff means that we can provide a better service for our patients, and we make safer decisions and fewer mistakes. We know that this is not just about how you as an individual manage the stress of your job; it is about how your job is designed (including how valued you feel at work, your autonomy and sense of control), the way your unit is managed and your team is led, and the support from your peers. This wellbeing hub therefore examines wellbeing from all angles - individual, team, and system.
Psychological resilience through the pandemic This document aims to provide evidence-based, self-help information and tips for getting through the coronavirus pandemic, based on psychology, neuroscience, resilience research and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). Compiled by Dr Kate Castle, Psychologist specialising in CBT www.CBTbristol.net
Psychology Tools: Living with worry and anxiety amidst global uncertainty Psychology Tools have put together this free guide to help you to manage your worry and anxiety in these uncertain times.
WHO: Coping with stress during the 2019-nCOV outbreak Information factsheet.

Articles

Zarocostas J. How to fight an infodemic. Lancet. 2020;395(10225):676. Keywords: Misinformation; COVID-19; Patient education; Pandemic
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WHO’s newly launched platform aims to combat misinformation around COVID-19. John Zarocostas reports from Geneva.
Brooks SK, et al. The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it. Lancet. 2020;395(10227):912-920. Keywords: Quarantine; Isolation; Mental health; COVID-19
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Abstract
The December, 2019 coronavirus disease outbreak has seen many countries ask people who have potentially come into contact with the infection to isolate themselves at home or in a dedicated quarantine facility. Decisions on how to apply quarantine should be based on the best available evidence. We did a Review of the psychological impact of quarantine using three electronic databases. Of 3166 papers found, 24 are included in this Review. Most reviewed studies reported negative psychological effects including post-traumatic stress symptoms, confusion, and anger. Stressors included longer quarantine duration, infection fears, frustration, boredom, inadequate supplies, inadequate information, financial loss, and stigma. Some researchers have suggested long-lasting effects. In situations where quarantine is deemed necessary, officials should quarantine individuals for no longer than required, provide clear rationale for quarantine and information about protocols, and ensure sufficient supplies are provided. Appeals to altruism by reminding the public about the benefits of quarantine to wider society can be favourable.
Chen Q, et al. Mental health care for medical staff in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(4):e15-e16. Keywords: Mental health; Medical professionals; COVID-19
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In December, 2019, an outbreak of a novel coronavirus pneumonia occurred in Wuhan (Hubei, China), and subsequently attracted worldwide attention. By Feb 9, 2020, there were 37 294 confirmed and 28 942 suspected cases of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China. Facing this large-scale infectious public health event, medical staff are under both physical and psychological pressure. To better fight the COVID-19 outbreak, as the largest top-class tertiary hospital in Hunan Province, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University undertakes a considerable part of the investigation of suspected patients. The hospital has set up a 24-h fever clinic, two mild suspected infection patient screening wards, and one severe suspected infection patient screening ward. In addition to the original medical staff at the infectious disease department, volunteer medical staff have been recruited from multiple other departments.
Rimmer A. I've noticed a change in my colleague's behaviour. What should I do? BMJ. 2019;365:l2392. Keywords: Mental health; Medical professionals
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It can be difficult to approach a colleague if you have concerns about their wellbeing because of a change in their behaviour. Abi Rimmer asks experts how best to handle this situation
Llewellyn A. Asking difficult questions in supervision, think RUOK? On the Wards. Published 2017 Feb 9. Keywords: Mental health; Medical education; Training; Medical professionals
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A little while ago I wrote this post about my experiences in asking difficult but important questions in psychiatry. Today’s article in the Sydney Morning Herald which relates the far too common experience of just one junior doctor seeing their colleagues suicide around them raises for me the issue of whether we more senior doctors are sufficiently addressing this problem as part of our duty of supervision of junior trainees?

Resilience & wellbeing

Coping and Flourishing during COVID 19 - Resilience and Wellbeing
Created by The Prince of Wales, Department of Anaesthesia. It contains advice and links to a wide range of apps, Tedtalks and other resources on topics such as resilience, mindfulness, fitness, sleep and happiness.

Looking for additional Wellbeing resources? Check out the Doctors Health and Wellbeing guide.

Do you have a COVID-19 related query? Want to submit a clinical resource for consideration?
Email: covid19@anzca.edu.au

COVID-19 and Fitness

How To: Work, Survive and Be Fit in Times of COVID-19
This guide was developed by ANZCA SIMG Fernando Arduini for Royal Perth Hospital. It is provided here by permission of the author.

Added: 9 June 2020

5 ways to manage your news consumption in times of crisis

Coronavirus: 5 ways to manage your news consumption in times of crisis

Switch off (check news 2-3 times per day not constantly)
Dive deep (constructive articles)
Connect but avoid dubious and unfiltered information (use social media wisely for connection and good sources)
Interrogate sources of information
Be mindful and use the crisis to build your media literacy.

8 tips to looking after your mental health

Coronavirus: 8 ways to look after your mental health

Ensure accurate information from legitimate sources
Set limits around news on COVID-19
Look after yourself (things you can control, routine, your basic needs, prioritise wellbeing)
Reach out to others & support those around you
Maintain a sense of hope and positive thinking (this will pass, there is always help available)
Acknowledge your feelings
Take time to talk with your children (and non-medical family/friends) about the outbreak
Ask for professional support if needed.

How to talk to kids about coronavirus

How to talk to your children about coronavirus (COVID-19): Eight tips to help comfort and protect children.

Ask open questions and listen
Be honest: explain the truth in a child-friendly way
Show them how to protect themselves and their friends
Offer reassurance
Check if they are experiencing or spreading stigma
Look for the helpers
Look after yourself
Close conversations with care.

Managing distress during COVID19

This series of weekly video presentations provides information about the nature of distress and strategies for coping with distress during the pandemic. Developed by Claire Ashton-James on behalf of the Royal North Shore Hospital Wellbeing Group, the presentations are short and digestible, and build upon one another.

Managing distress during COVID-19 Part 1
Managing distress during COVID-19 Part 2
This video provides simple, short, effective cognitive and somatic strategies for managing distress and anxiety at work on the front line.
Managing distress during COVID-19 Part 3
Part 3 looks at the benefits of gratitude - consciously reflecting on the good in one's life - and the reasons why practising gratitude helps to manage distress and anxiety, as well as how to practise gratitude most effectively.
Managing distress during COVID-19 Part 4
Part 4 looks at social connectedness: Why is it important to maintain high-quality social connections despite social distancing, and how do we do it?
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Claire Ashton-James, PhD, is a social psychologist. She is a faculty member at the University of Sydney where she conducts original research into the impact of patient and clinician emotions on judgment and behaviour, patient perceptions of clinician trustworthiness, and digital behavioural health solutions. She has published over 40 articles in leading peer-reviewed scientific journals (e.g. Psychological Science, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and PAIN) and is regularly invited to present her work at conferences, research institutes and healthcare organisations around the world.