Saúde mental dos profissionais da saúde no mundo durante a pandemia COVID-19: revisão de literatura

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to several mental health problems, especially among frontline health professionals. Frontline healthcare workers often suffer from anxiety, depression, burnout, insomnia, and stress-related disorders. This is largely mediated by individuals' biopsychological vulnerabilities; Socio-environmental factors such as the risk of exposure to infection, effective risk communication to healthcare professionals, availability of personal protective equipment, work-related stress, perceived stigma and psychological impact of isolation/quarantine and social distancing also play important roles. OBJECTIVE: carried out a bibliographical survey on the main factors that can affect the mental health of health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODOLOGY: This was a bibliographical, exploratory study carried out through an integrative literature review. The following virtual health databases were used, specifically the Virtual Health Library (VHL), the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Information System - LILACS, Scientific Electronic Library online - SCIELO and PUBMED, in the period from 2020 to 2022. RESULTS: Health professionals face increased psychological pressure and even mental illness during the COVID-19 Pandemic. It is recommended that policy makers and managers adopt support, incentive and motivation, protection and training and education interventions, especially through the information and communication platform. CONCLUSION: Health workers are considered vulnerable to mental health problems in the COVID-19 pandemic due to their intense exposure to multiple stressors, high risk of infection and excessive workloads. According to the results found, these professionals are at greater risk of mental illness, particularly sleep disorders, post-traumatic stress syndromes, depression, anxiety and burnout. In view of this, there is a need for public health policies that favor personal conditions and the quality of care provided.