CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- While the COVID-19 pandemic may be winding down, health care workers still have to grapple with the fallout.
Doctors, nurses, and other health care workers told their stories during a forum at St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates.
Dr. Clifton Saper, lead psychologist for Amita Health, said the hospital chain did regular checkups on the mental health of their employees since the onset of the pandemic. He said employees reported feeling depression, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy. If they had kids, Dr. Saper said they had a hard time balancing their role as their parent with their job of caring for the very sick and dying.
He added that the feelings don't go away.
"That anxiety and that depression, that fatigue, that struggle just doesn't turn off. Continuing to have feelings of overwhelming emotions including anxiety and sadness that they're having to deal with," Dr. Saper said.
The emotional and physical toll of the pandemic is forcing some health care workers to leave their jobs. North suburban Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi cited one study that said 12 percent of doctors were so burnt out their were leaving their profession.
Congressman Krishnamoorthi said the American Rescue Plan signed into law by President Biden includes funding to address the mental health needs of health care workers, from students to those already working.
"It provides resources to hospitals and health care providers to train their workforce in how to avoid burnout and stress and anxiety and deal with it once it happens," Congressman Krishnamoorthi said.
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