The Impact of the Covid-19 Crisis on the Practices and Mental Health of Psychologists in Belgium

Between Exhaustion and Resilience

Bibliographic Data

ID15493933
AuthorsFabienne Glowacz (0000-0003-0465-3837, University of Liège, corresponding author), Émilie Schmits (0000-0002-3598-9635, University of Liège), Annabelle Kinard (0000-0001-6753-7409, University of Liège)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue21
Pages14410-14410
Publication date2022-11-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph192114410
PMID36361297
OpenAlexW4308332204
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited21

While the COVID-19 pandemic has created psychological distress in the general population and increased the need for psychological care, little research has been done on how mental health practitioners (MHP) have been affected by the pandemic, and these health professionals have received little attention from public authorities. In this article, we focus on psychologists and the impact that the pandemic has had on their mental health and practices by exploring the adaptive and innovative responses generated. This study is based on an online survey (including multiple choice questions, several validated scales, and eight free text items) completed by 187 psychologists (86% female) one year after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium (February-April 2021). Most participants considered that the crisis had an impact on their well-being and mental health. However, the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety was relatively low (17%; 12%). On the other hand, the majority of psychologists (72%) suffered from a medium level of burnout (BO), 7% suffered from a high level of BO, and only 21% had low levels of BO. Psychologists working in face-to-face settings had the highest scores on the "exhaustion" subscale of the BO, and those working primarily with patients in precarious situations had significantly higher scores of BO and exhaustion. Qualitative analysis of free text items showed that MHP were resilience and developed new frameworks and modes for proactive interventions in order to reach their patients, meet the psychological and social population's needs, and maintain their relationships with the network. In a crisis or pandemic context, public policies should take into account the psychological and social needs of the most socially precarious populations in reinforcing and supporting mental health professionals working in this sector

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Environmental health · Mental health · Psychiatry · Psychological resilience · Resilience (materials science · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Health, psychology, and well-being · Medicine · Psychology · Resilience and Mental Health · Social Psychology · Virology