Support groups for healthcare professionals during COVID-19

As healthcare professionals become overwhelmed by COVID-19, it is important for healthcare professionals to connect with support groups to reduce stress, anxiety, and stigma as they fight to save lives.

COVID-19 has placed healthcare professionals at risk of infection and burnout, the overwhelming number of cases, lack of staffing, equipment, have left many emotional exhausted, as they scramble to save lives. The lack of social and institutional support can affect healthcare professionals’ health, engagement, physical capacity, and job performance. It’s important to provide and connect healthcare professionals with resources and support focused on ensuring their wellbeing.

Here are some support groups providing support, resources and self-care tips for healthcare professionals during COVID-19.

Peer RXMed

A free, peer-supported program helping to fight burnout, especially during COVID-19, when health professionals become overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, and stressed. Peer RXMed, designed to help physicians and other caregivers, designed to help physicians and care teams.  The support group connects healthcare professionals to resources, encourages peer-to-peer interaction with regular check-in with a buddy; connecting healthcare professionals with a PRX partner.  You can connect here.

The Schwartz Center 

The Schwartz Center works to support caregivers and healthcare leaders in the healthcare system. During this pandemic, the center has committed to supporting healthcare professionals by offering additional resources to help professionals support themselves and their patients.

The Center is holding Webinars, guides, and tips dedicated to helping healthcare professionals distress and combat burnout.

• Managing Our Fears and Stress: Strategies to Cultivate Emotional Agility
• Leading with Compassion: Supporting Healthcare Workers in a Crisis
• Tips For First Responders
• Sustaining Yourself During the Coronavirus Crisis

The Virtual Clinician Connection Support Group

The Eating Disorder Recovery Group has created a Virtual Connection Support Group for Clinicians and First Responders. The support group holds their weekly meetings every Tuesday at 8 p.m. EDT and is open to all clinical professionals. It’s a safe and supportive space for recharging and decompressing.   

This Peer Group allows  health professionals to

• Share their feeling and challenges at work and COVID-19
• Connect With Clinicians 
• Self Care Tips

If you are interested in joining the group, please email [email protected] for the consent form and login information.

NYC Wells

During COVID-19, many healthcare professionals need emotional support.; especially in New York City, where cases are higher than most states. NYC Wells is inclusive of all New Yorkers, the organization offers wellbeing and emotional support applications (apps), with a confidential helpline for mental health and substance misuse services. The Organization has trained counselors with 24 hours a day, 7-day support.

Services include:

• Crisis counseling
• Peer support
• Short-term counseling

Mobile crisis teams

Connection to ongoing mental health and substance misuse services

CALL: 1-888-NYC-Well (692-9355)

TEXT: “Well” to 65173

The wellbeing of healthcare professionals is important not only for the patients but for themselves. Having support groups connect with healthcare professionals improves patient and self-care allows for a cohesive care team, decreases burnout. It is important for healthcare professionals to take care of themselves, have support groups who care, not only because they are professionals but because they are a member of the community; who need as much care and support.

Additional Resources  

Action Collaborative on Clinician Wellbeing and Resilience

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  1-800-273-TALK (8255) 

SAMHSA National Helpline  1-800-662 HELP (4357) 

SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990 

Coronavirus Anxiety—Helpful Expert Tips and Resources

• This page from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America provides COVID-19 resources, including videos, tips, and blogs on managing anxiety and coping.

Headspace, a mental health app is offering all US healthcare professionals who work in public health settings free access to Headspace Plus through 2020

Ginger is offering free mental health support to the frontline healthcare workers fighting the pandemic. You can email for support: [email protected]

If you have any additional support groups for healthcare professionals during COVID-19 let us know in the comments below.