Reactions Among Mental Health Professionals During Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged mental health professionals in many unexpected ways. Research completed in the years following the pandemic suggests that individuals around the globe have experienced significant mental health difficulties since the start of the pandemic, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complicated grief. Much of this research has examined the general population or medical personnel specifically and has neglected to turn attention to mental health professionals who have been on the frontlines of treating these mental health difficulties. This study fills this gap in the literature by examining mental health professionals’ reactions during the early stages of the pandemic. Sixty-nine mental health professionals completed questionnaires examining trauma, grief, and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results indicated that 48% of participants met criteria for a provisional diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and 7% were experiencing severe grief. Those who first began using virtual platforms during the pandemic reported less grief and fewer PTSD symptoms. Those with children reported more resilience. Further, resilience mediated the relationship between having children and grief. Resilience and PTSD symptoms independently predicted grief responses. The results suggest the COVID-19 pandemic had profound effects on mental healthcare providers during the early stages of the pandemic.