COVID-19 Pandemic Mental Health Challenges: Patients and Providers.

ABSTRACT

Interviews with 15 Tennessee Advanced Practice Registered Nurses early in the COVID-19 pandemic revealed a major theme of mental health challenges unrelated to the primary study purpose. Without direct prompts, 13 out of 15 interviewees mentioned mental health issues among patients and 14 of the 15 interviewees discussed provider mental health problems. A secondary analysis of interview transcripts revealed three themes associated with mental health challenges general barriers to mental health care, patient-specific concerns, and provider issues. Responding to the new and worsening mental health and substance use disorders revealed by informants and cited in the literature is an urgent priority.