E74 - Fear on the Frontlines of COVID-19: Mental Health in Our Frontline Healthcare Workers with Dr. Mona Masood

Healthcare workers on the frontline, working to save patients with the COVID-19 virus, during this pandemic have been especially vulnerable to mental health consequences and trauma. In the early stages of the global shut-down, Dr. Mona Masood launched the Physician Support Line, a volunteer hotline to support physicians and healthcare providers who were on the frontlines, battling the virus, and the traumatic consequences of doing so, simultaneously. Doctors, nurses, EMTs and other health care workers have been under extremely stressful conditions, increased patient loads without necessary staffing, a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), and overtime hours, placing them at high risk for contracting the virus themselves. Many have lost colleagues to the virus.  In this episode, learn what inspired her to create this hotline, what it has done for physicians, and how you can get involved. Dr. Mona Masood is board certified in general adult psychiatry and is an outpatient psychiatrist in the Ivyland, Pennsylvania area.  She is also the founder of the Physician Support Line and a Board Member of the nonprofit Muslim Wellness Foundation, which provides mental health educational services to the community. For more information on the Physician Support Line please go to: https://www.physiciansupportline.com/