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The Early Impact of the Covid-19 Emergency on Mental Health Workers: A Survey in Lombardy, Italy

Author

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  • Filippo Rapisarda

    (Research and Development Team, Sociosfera ONLUS SCS, Via Antonio Gramsci 8, 20831 Seregno, Italy)

  • Martine Vallarino

    (Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

  • Elena Cavallini

    (Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

  • Angelo Barbato

    (IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milano, Italy)

  • Camille Brousseau-Paradis

    (Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, 7401 Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC H1N 3M5, Canada)

  • Luigi De Benedictis

    (Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, 7401 Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC H1N 3M5, Canada)

  • Alain Lesage

    (Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, 7401 Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC H1N 3M5, Canada)

Abstract

Lombardy was the epicenter of the Covid-19 outbreak in Italy, and in March 2020 the rapid escalation in cases prompted the Italian Government to decree a mandatory lockdown and to introduce safety practices in mental health services. The general objective of the study is to evaluate the early impact of the Covid-19 emergency and quarantine on the well-being and work practices of mental health service personnel and professionals. Data were collected through an online survey of workers and professionals working with people with mental health problems in Lombardy in several outpatient and inpatient services. Their socio-demographic characteristics, professional background, description of working conditions during lockdown and psychological distress levels were collected. All analyses were performed on a sample of 241. Approximately, 31% of the participants obtained a severe score in at least one of the burnout dimensions, 11.6% showed moderate or severe levels of anxiety, and 6.6% had a moderate or severe level of depression. Different work conditions and patterns of distress were found for outpatient service workers and inpatient service workers. The overall impact of the Covid-19 emergency on mental health workers’ level of distress was mild, although a significant number of workers experienced severe levels of depersonalization and anxiety. More research is needed to assess specific predictive factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Filippo Rapisarda & Martine Vallarino & Elena Cavallini & Angelo Barbato & Camille Brousseau-Paradis & Luigi De Benedictis & Alain Lesage, 2020. "The Early Impact of the Covid-19 Emergency on Mental Health Workers: A Survey in Lombardy, Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-12, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:22:p:8615-:d:448033
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    1. Bernat-Carles Serdà & Maria Aymerich & Josefina Patiño-Masó & Mònica Cunill, 2021. "Mental Health Screening of Healthcare Professionals Who Are Candidates for Psychological Assistance during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-17, October.
    2. Inbar Livnat & Michal Almog-Bar, 2023. "Who Provides Resilience to the Community Resilience Providers?," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-14, July.
    3. José Ángel Martínez-López & Cristina Lázaro-Pérez & José Gómez-Galán, 2021. "Predictors of Burnout in Social Workers: The COVID-19 Pandemic as a Scenario for Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-14, May.
    4. Gloria Guidetti & Daniela Converso & Domenico Sanseverino & Chiara Ghislieri, 2022. "Return to Work during the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Study on the Role of Job Demands, Job Resources, and Personal Resources upon the Administrative Staff of Italian Public Universities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-17, February.
    5. Filippo Rapisarda & Martine Vallarino & Camille Brousseau-Paradis & Luigi De Benedictis & Marc Corbière & Patrizia Villotti & Elena Cavallini & Catherine Briand & Lionel Cailhol & Alain Lesage, 2022. "Workplace Factors, Burnout Signs, and Clinical Mental Health Symptoms among Mental Health Workers in Lombardy and Quebec during the First Wave of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-14, March.

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