Supporting the well-being of health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic: The CopeColumbia response

Mellins, Claude A.; Mayer, Laurel E.S.; Glasofer, Deborah R.; Devlin, Michael J.; Albano, Anne Marie; Nash, Sara Siris; Engle, Erin; Cullen, Colleen; Ng, Warren Y.K.; Allman, Anna; Fitelson, Elizabeth Murphy; Vieira, Aaron; Remien, Robert H.; Malone, Patrice; Wainberg, Milton L.; Baptista-Neto, Lourival

OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 is an international public health crisis, putting substantial burden on medical centers and increasing the psychological toll on health care workers (HCW). METHODS: This paper describes [Masked2], a peer support program developed by faculty in a large Urban Medical Center's Department of Psychiatry to support emotional well-being and enhance the professional resilience of HCW. RESULTS: Grounded in evidence-based clinical practice and research, peer support was offered in three formats: groups, individual sessions, and town halls. Also, psychoeducational resources were centralized on a website. A Facilitator's Guide informed group and individual work by including: (1) emotional themes likely to arise (e.g., stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, and anger) and (2) suggested facilitator responses and interventions, drawing upon evidence-based principles from peer support, stress and coping models, and problem-solving, cognitive behavioral, and acceptance and commitment therapies. Feedback from group sessions was overwhelmingly positive. Approximately 1/3 of individual sessions led to treatment referrals. CONCLUSIONS: Lessons learned include: (1) there is likely an ongoing need for both well-being programs and linkages to mental health services for HCW, (2) the workforce with proper support, will emerge emotionally resilient, and (3) organizational support for programs like [Masked2] is critical for sustainability.