Since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic health care, public
health, first responders, and other essential workers have been engaged
in the most extensive emergency response in more than a century, whilst
trust in science has been eroded and public health has been politicized.
Against this context, the authors in this collection assess the
potential mental health impacts, widening disparities, and needed
interventions for future resilience of the public health workforce. What
actions can be taken now to ensure more resilient systems post-pandemic?
Focusing on the impacts of the pandemic on responder health across
health care, public health, emergency management, and more, the
chapters, written by experts in the field, provide an overview of the
mental health impacts of disasters and emergencies on responders more
broadly, and also highlight the inequitable impacts of the response
among sectors of the workforce and populations who are socially or
physically vulnerable. Closing with recommendations for changes that are
needed to address gaps in capacity, COVID-19, Frontline Responders and
Mental Health makes a crucial contribution to building the evidence
base and disseminating best practices to ensure recommendations become
standard practices in the future.
Realizing the harsh potential realities such as a shortage of qualified
workers and questions around funding and workforce development needed to
ensure preparedness for the next public health emergency, this playbook
for delivering resilient public health systems post-pandemic provides a
timely oversight for future resilience.
