Frontline mental resilience: Lessons learned from the pandemic experience
Pooja Khurana1, Raja Zirwatul Aida Binti Raja Ibrahim1, Khatijah Omar1
1Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia.
Australasian Emergency Care
|September 13, 2025
Summary
Healthcare workers faced significant psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic, with high rates of burnout and anxiety. Workplace support is crucial for mitigating these effects and improving mental health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Occupational Health
- Psychology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic imposed extreme psychological distress on frontline Healthcare Workers (HCWs).
- This study investigates burnout, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and resilience among HCWs.
- It also evaluates the effectiveness of institutional mental health support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of psychological distress and resilience in HCWs during the pandemic.
- To identify key factors contributing to and protecting against psychological distress.
- To analyze the impact of institutional mental health interventions.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional longitudinal study combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews.
- 500 HCWs from diverse healthcare settings participated.
- Validated instruments measured burnout, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and resilience.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of psychological distress: 42.5% burnout, 35.2% anxiety, 29.8% depression, 21.4% PTSD.
- Factors contributing to distress included long hours, high patient volume, and lack of PPE.
- Workplace support was found to be a protective factor against distress.
Conclusions:
- HCWs experienced severe psychological distress during the pandemic.
- There is a need for enhanced mental health policies and organizational support.
- Increased access to digital mental health interventions is recommended.
Keywords:
COVID-19Healthcare workersMental health servicesOccupational stressPsychologicalPsychological distressResilienceMore Related Videos
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