This guide to moral injury during COVID-19 has been developed as a practical resource for healthcare workers and organizations to better understand the range of moral emotions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and to develop organizational and individual strategies to mitigate risks of lasting harm.
“Moral injury refers to the psychological, social and spiritual impact of events involving betrayal or transgression of one’s own deeply held moral beliefs and values occurring in high stakes situations”.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, healthcare workers have been under intense stress making critical decisions like triaging life-saving care when resources are limited or postponing ‘non-essential’ care such as psychotherapy for patients with mental health conditions. If this moral stress is not addressed, it can cause long term injury – moral injury.
This guide provides recommendations for organization, team and individual supports for healthcare workers.
Support for healthcare staff in managing these stressors is critical if we are to avoid the most severe harms. This is a responsibility that is shared across all levels of an organization. https://www.moralinjuryguide.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Moral-Injury-Guide.pdf
Explanatory video: https://vimeo.com/435899612
Mental Health supports – https://socalsunrisemh.com/managing-mental-health-during-covid-19/
Workshop and Resources for Long Term Care Staff and Managers and Staff https://www.sararielinc.com/language/en/long-term-care-workshops/
Wellbeing guide to support you to achieve a greater sense of well-being in whatever areas you choose (developed by WRHA). https://wellbeingguide.ca/wp-content/site/
Province of Manitoba Mental Health Virtual Therapy
Calm in the Storm app – an app for coping with the stresses of life (developed by Klinic, Canadian Association for Suicide Prevent, and Winnipeg Suicide Prevention Network)
Coping with Coronavirus Angst: 15 Opportunities for Self-Care
Self-Compassion Break & Meditation
Releasing Anxiety Meditation in this Challenging Time
Tara Brach – Livestream Guided Meditations
How to Stay Connected During Self-isolation
How to Respond to COVID using Acceptance & Commitment Therapy Techniques
TED The Importance of Self-Care
Mental Health Commission Resource Hub
Carolyn Klassen (speaker at CCDDA 2019) COVID-19 Coping Kit
The Discomfort Your Feeling is Grief
Self-care for DSP’s in Crisis
Meditation for DSP’s in times of Stress
Looking after your mental health (plain language)
Province of Manitoba – Mental Health
Mental Health America Resources
7 tips on how to quell anxiety about nova coronavirus outbreak from mental health experts
10 Tips to Reduce Anxiety During the COVID-19 Outbreak
- https://bhatiapsychology.com/blog/10-tips-to-reduce-anxiety-during-covid-19/?
How to Prevent Loneliness in a Time of Social Distancing
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-prevent-loneliness-in-a-time-of-social-distancing/?
COVID-19 and Anxiety
Centre for Addiction & Mental Health
Mindful Poetry & Music
ADAM – Anxiety & Worry Support Program
- http://www.adam.mb.ca/blog/adam-s-new-anxiety-and-worry-support-program
- ADAM – Telephone Support Line http://www.adam.mb.ca/blog/adam-s-telephone-support-line
- ADAM – Audio Relaxation http://www.adam.mb.ca/audio-relaxation
How to Support the Mental Health of Workers in Times of Change and Uncertainty: Responding to a Pandemic
Mental Health & Resilience During COVID-19
Being a Mindful Employee: An Orientation to Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (SafeWork Manitoba 75 minute free online training)
Aulneau Free Wellness Check & Counselling
https://aulneau.com/covid-19-update/
COVID 19 and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Mental Health Research and Practice
Excellent Webinar – “Self-Care for Health Professionals Working in Intellectual Disability Services Through the COVID 19 Pandemic” – https://youtu.be/JDh9YzHC4tQ to watch and the power point presentation can be accessed here: http://www.professionalpalliativehub.com/sites/default/files/Self-Care_Covid-19_ID%20Services_Prof_Robertson.pdf
The Government of Manitoba website on Mental Health during COVID-19 provides information on free services available and how to access: https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/bewell/index.html
Mental Health and COVID-19 resources: https://mhanational.org/covid19
Canadian Mental Health Association – Manitoba and Winnipeg – Service Navigation Hub (SNH) provides information on a range of topics related to mental health, mental illness, distress and strategies connected to resilience. You can reach them directly at: 204-775-6442 or email at: hub@cmhawpg.mb.ca
Aulneau Renewal Centre – providing free wellness checks with a counsellor via phone call. Register online for a scheduled wellness check here.
The Hope for Wellness Help Line – offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada.
Workplace Strategies for Mental Health – Videos to support good mental health throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sara Riel Inc.’s Employment Services are providing you with information and support on the differing benefits available, as well as support in employment related skills such as cover letters, resume writing, job searching, interviewing and mental health support. Check out their press release on this service: https://abilitiesmanitoba.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Sara-Riel-Press-Release-Employment.pdf
Manitoba Possible put together the following resources:
- Resources for Those in Isolation & Addressing COVID-19 Anxieties
- 7 Tips on How to Quell Anxiety About Novel Coronavirus Outbreak From Mental Health Experts (The Star): https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/03/02/8-tips-on-how-to-quell-anxiety-about-novel-coronavirus-outbreak-from-mental-health-experts.html
- How to Prepare and Stock Up for a Coronavirus Quarantine (CNET): https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-prepare-for-a-coronavirus-quarantine-what-to-stock-up-on/?fbclid=IwAR3hGe2t5pf5PnVwxIfDauWQZKMeR6DWj3iYyq8nVTDqtxqOlFx1jpVqfrk
- 10 Tips to Reduce Anxiety During the COVID-19 Outbreak (Bhatia Psychology): https://bhatiapsychology.com/blog/10-tips-to-reduce-anxiety-during-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR3zf4H-lKfwo4Q3nYTJRkhkAME2xztclZvBaJUWG6V0MGHO85s9zxXeRZI
- How to Prevent Loneliness in a Time of Social Distancing (Scientific American): https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-prevent-loneliness-in-a-time-of-social-distancing/?fbclid=IwAR1BzCcaTAgXo_I4KZF5Nk0zReuikRQecdIG1KbgGoO0C0ZTWRpAL8YHtv4
COVID-19 and Anxiety – https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/infosheet/covid-19-and-anxiety
NADSP webinar on Self Care for the DSP: https://youtu.be/CL95EsnLFuo
Complete Mental Health Guide During Covid-19 Pandemic This document was developed using crowd sourcing material in Vancouver, Canada. https://peak-resilience.com/blog/2020/3/15/covid-19-amp-your-mental-health-a-comprehensive-resource-guide
Exercise can boost our immunity and improve mental health. The [National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD)] put together a playlist on YouTube of 32 of their videos that you can exercise with at home! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwMObYmlSHaPIArTOC4JBZfeuU7LN7KVJ
Webinar recording -Promoting Mental Health and Resiliency for Developmental Services Staff https://youtu.be/K9DzEn41vwU
https://themighty.com/2020/03/covid-19-coronavirus-news-support-chronic-mental-illness/
Look out for those around you and check in on someone if you notice significant attitude or behavioural shifts. If you do see significant changes and are worried about someone you love, Be There provides information on how to start a conversation and give support.
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has tips, coping strategies, and resources to manage mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Compassion Fatigue project has some useful resources – https://compassionfatigue.org/