Mental Health Support Strategies for Skilled and Non-Skilled Workers during and after Disease Outbreaks: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective: The study aims to understand the various crisis interventions implemented by HCWs and non-skilled workers in society during outbreaks of immediate public concern. The primary diseases utilised for the study include COVID-19, MERS, SARS, Ebola, and Influenza. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed to identify the papers and write the systematic literature review (SLR). Medline, Pubmed, PsychInfo, and Cochrane databases were used for searching the papers. Results: This systematic literature review observed that few countries employed psychological interventions for HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many stress, trauma, and anxiety are associated with pandemic or epidemic outbreaks in HCWs and other non-skilled workers. This needs to be addressed extensively for successful implementation. Conclusion: Crisis-based interventions which address psychological trauma are lacking in many countries though there have been significant outbreaks of pandemics. Various organisations must commit more effectively by setting up committees and making appropriate frameworks for implementing resilience measures, mind-based interventions, and coping strategies for effectively encountering pandemic disease outbreaks.