COMVC-19: A Program to protect healthcare workers' mental health during the COVID-19 Pandemic. What we have learned.

OBJECTIVE: In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought a work and stress overload to healthcare workers, increasing their vulnerability to mental health impairments. In response, the authors created the COMVC-19 program. The program offered preventive actions and mental health treatment for the 22,000 workers of The Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP). This paper aims to describe its implementation and share what we have learned from this experience. METHODS: Workers were able to easily access the program through a 24/7 hotline. Additionally, a mobile phone app that screened for signs and symptoms of emotional distress and offered psychoeducation and/or referral to treatment was made available. Data from both these sources as well as any subsequent psychiatric evaluations were collected. RESULTS: The first 20 weeks of our project revealed that most participants were female, and part of the nursing staff working directly with COVID-19 patients. The most frequently reported symptoms were: anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances. The most common diagnoses were Adjustment, Anxiety, and Mood disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing a mental health program in a multimodal intervention was feasible in a major quaternary public hospital. Our data also suggests that preventive actions should primarily be aimed at anxiety and depression symptoms, with a particular focus on the nursing staff.

Worker health in COVID-19 times: reflections on health, safety, and occupational therapy / A saúde do trabalhador em tempos de COVID-19: reflexões sobre saúde, segurança e terapia ocupacional

Resumo Este ensaio teórico tem o objetivo de apontar importantes contribuições, no âmbito da Saúde e da Segurança do Trabalhador, no que se refere ao enfrentamento da COVID-19, baseando-se em leis, políticas, normas e recomendações internacionais sobre o assunto. Pretende-se, ainda, identificar possíveis atuações em Terapia Ocupacional, saúde e trabalho, levando em consideração o combate à pandemia no Brasil. A literatura aponta que profissionais da saúde têm três vezes mais chances de contrair o vírus do que a população em geral. Por essa razão, no Brasil, o Governo federal precisa se articular com os estaduais e os municipais para elaborar, adaptar, implementar e fiscalizar leis, políticas e normas sobre saúde e segurança do trabalhador, de forma a garantir condições de trabalho adequadas e diminuir os riscos à saúde dos trabalhadores durante a pandemia. Sobre a Terapia Ocupacional, foram pontuados direcionamentos iniciais acerca da atuação no âmbito da saúde do trabalhador, considerando o que preconizam o Sistema Único de Saúde, a Política Nacional de Saúde do Trabalhador e da Trabalhadora e o Conselho Federal de Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional. Convém enfatizar que ações não devem ser direcionadas somente aos trabalhadores dos serviços de saúde, mas também aos de outros serviços assistenciais essenciais e considerar estratégias para alcançar os que trabalham de forma desregulamentada.

Abstract This theoretical essay aims to point out the main contributions in the health and workers' safety aspects, considering the laws, public policies, international recommendations, and point out possible paths and roles of Occupational Therapy to fight against COVID-19 Brazilian pandemic. The literature shows that health care workers have three times more likely to get infected than the general population. Thus, in Brazil, the Federal Government needs to articulate with the local and regional sphere to create, adapt, implement and inspect laws, policies, and standards on workers' health and safety to ensure conditions to work and reduce health risks for workers during the pandemic. Regarding Occupational Therapy, initial guidelines were pointed out about the work in the occupational health, considering policies of the Unified Health System, National Health Policy for Workers and Federal Council of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy. The actions must be directed not only to health service workers, but also to other essential assistance services, and those who work in an unregulated manner.