We have provided information on the general state of our health as a society many times in “Fact”. We also reported that the data on the mental health of Poles is worrying. Now it is known that the situation among medical workers is also bad.
If you have emotional problems and want advice or support, here is a list of organizations that offer professional help. In case of immediate threat to life, call 997 or 112.
– Everything inside me was black – Jagoda Hoffman-Hutna, a doctor, describes how she felt before she was diagnosed with depression. He received help and speaks openly about it, but for many of his friends, this is still not easy.
– This is a topic that remains taboo, – admits Jagoda Hofman-Hutna, a doctor and author of the report on the mental health of Polish doctors from Polki w Medycynie Foundation.
To overcome this shame, but also to understand how far the problem goes, she and her husband conducted research among two thousand doctors.
“Darkest Under the Lights”
The answer to the question about suicidal thoughts can be surprising, because such thoughts work in every third person in the health field.
“It is darkest under the lamp,” explains Dr. Wojciech Soltys, head of the department of psychiatry at the Bytom regional specialist hospital.
Those who help others on a daily basis often need help. Over 70 percent of people surveyed have felt worthless and lost interest in things they used to enjoy in the past 30 days. And this is a clear signal: depression is near.
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– Even the doctor is blinded by his pain and at the same time needs the support of others, – Wojciech Soltys notes.
But not only doctors, paramedics, physiotherapists and nurses – reminds the nurse of the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, member of the National Union of Nurses and Midwives, who has been working in this profession for 35 years, Yolanta Janusczak. – Depressive syndromes and depressive states appear, emotional and anxiety states appear, and sleep disorders appear – he mentions. Because the system is overburdened, there are still very few nurses. And the pressure remains at its highest.
One and a half million Poles suffer from depression
The support of a psychologist helped Viktor Sihehovska, an anesthesiologist during the pandemic. And he helped a friend who was struggling with a similar problem.
– He knew that I was sick and had such problems, so he came to me for advice and help, – says anesthesiologist Viktoria Tsekhovska. And this is the most important step, because even half of the doctors who needed help did not turn to it. The prescription – according to the National Consultant on Psychiatry – is one.
– We are talking about this topic, because it surprises us that – so many medical workers have thoughts of suicide, and the question arises: who is treating me, – says prof. Piotr Galecki, national consultant in the field of psychiatry, head of the psychiatric clinic of the Medical University of Lodz.
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Depression can affect anyone. According to the latest data, one and a half million Poles suffer from it. And each of us can seek help both from professionals and from organizations that offer professional help.
Healthcare workers affected by this disease can and should seek it out. Due to the additional pressure of responsibility for a person's life, their risk of illness or addiction increases. Even from alcohol.
– This is a form of “self-treatment” for both male and female doctors, – notes Piotr Galecki. Yakub Golab, the spokesman of the Ministry of Health, to prevent any treatment, the Ministry of Health announces actions – the permanent implementation of the program of crisis intervention or psychological support to medical professions.
But to get help, you must first apply for it. – We need to somehow be emotionally and mentally stable in order to be able to help others, – concludes Viktoria Tsekhovska.
Main photo source: TVN24
