LIFE & HEALTH
Let’s Talk About Mental Health Written by Nancy Sokoler Steiner
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nyone reading this publication knows that while working in health care can be extremely gratifying, it can also be extremely stressful. The demanding pace, high stakes and emotional intensity all contribute to fatigue and burnout. And that was before the pandemic. Feelings of helplessness and fear in the face of the new and mysterious virus brought a whole new level of stress to the physicians and staff of Torrance Memorial Medical Center and their peers worldwide. Now, COVID-19 has reached more manageable levels, but the impact it has had on health care workers persists. In the American Medical Association’s 2022 National Burnout Benchmarking report, 52% of respondents said they were experiencing a great deal of stress. In May, United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, issued a new Surgeon General’s Advisory highlighting the urgent need to address the health worker burnout crisis across the country. “While the worst is over, people are stressed, they’re overworked and feeling anxious,” says Morris (Moe) Gelbart, PhD, Torrance Memorial’s director of behavioral health. “At this point, many of us are getting numb.” He notes that in addition to all the stresses associated with caregiving, isolation and lack of 10
ONCENTER — SUMMER 2022
connection have contributed to mental health challenges among physicians and staff. “Because of COVID-19 protocols, we’re having fewer in-person meetings, gatherings in the lunchroom or opportunities to socialize in the lounge,” he says. “That takes a toll.” Caring for the Caregivers The announcement on flights about oxygen masks is a good analogy for health care providers, says Frederick Dennis, MD, the medical director of Torrance Memorial IPA. “Put on your own oxygen mask first. You’re not going to be able to care for someone else if you don’t take care of yourself.” To be productive, one needs renewal periods, he says, suggesting blocking out time on the calendar for the short- and long-term stress-reduction strategies he describes. For immediate relief, he suggests visualization, which entails closing one’s eyes and thinking of a peaceful, tranquil setting such as the beach or rainforest and engaging each of the senses in that setting—smelling the trees, hearing the birds sing and feeling the sun on one’s face. “Within one to two minutes, that can lower blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rate, as well as stop the release of stress chemicals,” he says. Similarly, “one breath” entails breathing all the way out, then breathing in slowly using all the senses—noticing the feeling of the chair, the ambient sounds, the objects within sight, etc. “This gets you out of your mind and focused on the external instead,” says Dr. Dennis. “It stops the monkey chatter [in your head] by focusing on sensory input.” Apps such as Calm or Headspace can help with meditation and visualization. Intermediate and longer-term measures
