Medical workers offered PTSD counseling to cope with battling COVID-19

Before it becomes a bigger issue, the hospital is encouraging all it's workers to take a step back and use mental health resources now available.

"There were more and more people describing anxiety, grief, at the loss of many things," said Dr. Trish Kritek. "Trouble sleeping.

Kritek said these are the symptoms among some of her colleagues.

"And then you add all that’s been going on with the pandemic," Kritek said.

Hundreds of people in the state have died from COVID-19. Many have come through the University of Washington medical system.

Even though there are now fewer corona virus patients and deaths, Kritek is concerned about the mental health affects on doctors, nurses, and frontline workers .

"We noticed that this was beyond what peer supporters could support," Kritek said.

Which is why they recently set up a call in hotline, weekly virtual meet ups with the medical community, and one on one counseling if needed.

"Sometimes you just need a colleague to sit and listen because it’s been a bad day," Kritek said. "Sometimes you need a lot more support. So anything along that spectrum."

The psychiatry department is analyzing research from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to learn how post traumatic stress disorder affects troops in battle.

People with the condition struggle to recover from a terrifying event. Kritek said no one is immune from mental health issues, because signs could show up months or years later.

"We are all at risk for that and that’s something we want to be in tune to," Kritek said.