Our frontline workers are not only battling one of the deadliest viruses we have seen in decades, but simultaneously dealing with insufficient resources, rumours of hoaxes that put them in danger, protestors who refuse to stay home, profound exploitation by their government and hospital administration, and most significantly the PTSD, anxiety, and depression that comes with trauma. Make no mistake, they are experiencing trauma, and to think of the inevitable psychological toll is harrowing. Let’s remember that in addition to being heroes, our front line workers are human. They too long to hug their child after a long, difficult day of work. They too need to grieve after watching a patient die alone. They too miss the human connection that has been taken from them by their PPE. And they too are just as scared of this virus as we are, if not more.
Megan Murnane
The Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland