ARTICLE can be particularly challenging for some people , for example , those with Alzheimer ’ s disease , as they may not fully understand the concept of social distancing and why they cannot make contact with loved ones . This can adversely affect their mental health and even cause depression . 29
Burnout , isolation , and stress in health professionals in pandemic times
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in burnout , 11-13 compassion fatigue , 12 compassion satisfaction , 12 depression , 14-17 anxiety , 14-18 traumatic stress , 18 stress , 11 , 12 , 14 , 16 13 , 17
distress , emotional exhaustion , 13 insomnia , 17 and poor sleep quality 15 , 16 in healthcare professionals . Additionally , the physical strain of using personal protective equipment ( PPE ) ( such as dehydration , heat , and exhaustion ) and physical isolation ( being able to touch others ), constant vigilance regarding infection control procedures , and fears about infection created an additional burden on health professionals . 13 Anxiety and depression affect approximately one in nine Australians . 32 People with depression may also be at higher risk of other negative health behaviours or risk factors . 32
Burnout is a prolonged response to chronic emotional and social stressors . 13 One of the drivers of burnout is isolation . 33 Social isolation is where an individual has a minimal number of social contacts and lacks engagement with others and the wider community . 34 , 35 Social isolation is a significant threat to health and
wellbeing . 34 , 36 Social interaction is essential for health , 37-39 particularly mental health , psychological wellbeing , 40 and cognitive health . 35 Lack of social connection lowers self-esteem . 41 The COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced social interaction due to physical distancing , 9 social isolation , 9 multiple stay at home orders , 42 and quarantine ( of family members and whole populations ) in the hope of limiting its spread . 9 Social isolation during COVID-19 has caused changes in sleep patterns , with younger people reporting less sleep . There are also changes in physical activity : an increase among younger people and a decrease among older people . 38 Younger people reported eating more , and older people less . 38 Alcohol consumption rose , especially among younger people . 38 The use of social media , emails , and text messages increased . 38 Quarantine and social distancing during the 2020 outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States has had a significant consequence of loneliness , being stressed , and a negative effect on overall health . 38 There is strong evidence of the adverse effect of social isolation on mortality . 39 Physical / social distancing , social isolation , and quarantine have severely limited meaningful social connections . 42 The lack of social contact
Loneliness is a feeling of being without the type of relationships one desires . 39 It can also be a deficit between the actual and desired quality and quantity of social engagement . 39 Loneliness negatively affects overall health . 39 Loneliness is a strong risk factor for depression 34 and has been connected to both morbidity and mortality . 38 People who feel lonely are inclined to be less trusting , to be more anxious , more pessimistic , and perceive others around them more negatively . 34 Social isolation and loneliness tend to accompany each other , but can also be experienced independently of one another . 34 There is an increased risk of feelings of loneliness coinciding with more intense and / or longer social isolation . 34
Mentoring and support
Positive social interaction , social connections , and harmonious relationships with others positively
35 , 37
affect mental and physical wellbeing , lower mortality rates , improve health outcomes , and are associated with higher quality of life . 35 Research has found that people lacking a confidant and a support network to share personal feelings and emotions with was a strong predictor of distress . 36 This is where mentoring and support networks can play a significant positive role .
Mentoring plays an increasingly important role in helping develop colleagues and students into competent , 43 , 44 happy , 43 43 , 44
successful , satisfied , 44 and confident health professionals . 43 The process of mentoring provides mentors with career and psychosocial rewards and feelings of accomplishment . 45 The mentee who receives mentoring and support benefits from a wide variety of career
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