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“Hang in There!”: Mental Health in a Sample of the Italian Civil Protection Volunteers during the COVID-19 Health Emergency

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  • Rita Roncone

    (Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Spennati 1, Edificio Delta 6, Studio 110-Coppito, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
    University Unit Rehabilitation Treatment, Early Interventions in Mental Health, Hospital S. Salvatore, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Laura Giusti

    (Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Spennati 1, Edificio Delta 6, Studio 110-Coppito, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Silvia Mammarella

    (Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Spennati 1, Edificio Delta 6, Studio 110-Coppito, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Anna Salza

    (Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Spennati 1, Edificio Delta 6, Studio 110-Coppito, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Valeria Bianchini

    (Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Spennati 1, Edificio Delta 6, Studio 110-Coppito, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Annalina Lombardi

    (LARES Italia—Unione Nazionale Laureati Esperti in Protezione Civile, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Massimo Prosperococco

    (LARES Italia—Unione Nazionale Laureati Esperti in Protezione Civile, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Elio Ursini

    (LARES Italia—Unione Nazionale Laureati Esperti in Protezione Civile, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Valentina Scaletta

    (LARES Italia—Unione Nazionale Laureati Esperti in Protezione Civile, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Massimo Casacchia

    (Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Spennati 1, Edificio Delta 6, Studio 110-Coppito, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

Abstract

Few studies have been conducted on civil volunteers and their emotional conditions concerning the current COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 emergency on the mental health (general well-being, depression level, and post-traumatic distress), coping strategies, and training needs in an Italian sample of 331 Civil Protection volunteers of the L’Aquila province, during the first nationwide “lockdown” (8 March–3 June 2020). The rate of respondents to the online survey was limited (11.5%), presumably because displaying distress would be considered a sign of “weakness”, making volunteers unable to do their jobs. More than 90% of the volunteers showed good mental health conditions and a wide utilization of positive coping strategies, with the less experienced displaying better emotional conditions compared to colleagues with 10 or more years of experience. The type of emergency, the relatively few cases of contagion and mortality in the territory compared to the rest of Italy, and the sense of helping the community, together with the awareness of their group identity, could have contributed to the reported well-being. These results may help to identify the needs of volunteers related to this new “urban” emergency to improve both their technical and emotional skills.

Suggested Citation

  • Rita Roncone & Laura Giusti & Silvia Mammarella & Anna Salza & Valeria Bianchini & Annalina Lombardi & Massimo Prosperococco & Elio Ursini & Valentina Scaletta & Massimo Casacchia, 2021. "“Hang in There!”: Mental Health in a Sample of the Italian Civil Protection Volunteers during the COVID-19 Health Emergency," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8587-:d:614329
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anja Greinacher & Alexander Nikendei & Renate Kottke & Jürgen Wiesbeck & Wolfgang Herzog & Christoph Nikendei, 2019. "Secondary Traumatization, Psychological Stress, and Resilience in Psychosocial Emergency Care Personnel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Tiziana Maiorano & Monia Vagni & Valeria Giostra & Daniela Pajardi, 2020. "COVID-19: Risk Factors and Protective Role of Resilience and Coping Strategies for Emergency Stress and Secondary Trauma in Medical Staff and Emergency Workers—An Online-Based Inquiry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-18, October.
    3. Monia Vagni & Tiziana Maiorano & Valeria Giostra & Daniela Pajardi, 2020. "Hardiness and Coping Strategies as Mediators of Stress and Secondary Trauma in Emergency Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-27, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jan Domaradzki, 2022. "‘Who Else If Not We’. Medical Students’ Perception and Experiences with Volunteering during the COVID-19 Crisis in Poznan, Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Jessica Burrai & Alessandro Quaglieri & Umberto Aitella & Clarissa Cricenti & Ivan D’Alessio & Alessandra Pizzo & Giulia Lausi & Anna Maria Giannini & Emanuela Mari, 2022. "The Fear of COVID-19: Gender Differences among Italian Health Volunteers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-18, May.

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