Working During The Pandemic: A Blessing In Disguise?

Over a year into the pandemic and Mental Health Awareness Week has perhaps never been more relevant. Whilst vast measures have been taken to preserve our physical health, our mental health is said to have been sidelined. At the start of Covid-19 in the UK, the vast majority of people were sent home and told to stay home. I have taken a look at the mental toll taken on those who still had to go out to work during the early and uncertain months of the pandemic.

Whilst initially the phrase “key workers” pertained to primarily hospital staff, we’ve shown much more recognition for all the other key workers that remained working to keep the country afloat during these chaotic times. With this in mind, I spoke to several people about their similar, yet differing experiences of remaining working during the pandemic, how this affected their mental health, and how they remained resilient throughout.

Working as a Carer

On day four of lockdown, in March 2020, my sister mentioned that her workplace – a residential care home specialising in dementia care – was looking for extra staff during what was a demanding time for them. Being young, healthy, and able, I jumped at this opportunity, seeing it as the perfect chance to get out the house on a daily basis while helping those most vulnerable.

“It sounded simple and hardly taxing, but I soon realised how mentally draining it could be, especially under the circumstances of Covid.”

I spent six months working at the care home in a “domestic and activities” position. This meant that some days I’d mop floors, wipe down surfaces, and scrub toilets, and on others, I’d entertain the residents with games and crafts. It sounded simple and hardly taxing, but I soon realised how mentally draining it could be, especially under the circumstances of Covid.

Extreme precaution was taken to protect staff and elderly vulnerable residents who had to isolate in their bedrooms. Staff had to wear PPE; this included a disposable apron, face mask, visor, and vinyl gloves. PPE had to be removed before leaving the room and disposed of in allocated bins positioned at every door. Plastic visors had to be anti-bac’d in the corridor afterwards. Wearing all this equipment for several hours was stifling.

“We were all treading foreign waters, with advice from government bodies constantly changing.”

One day, we even trialed full boiler suits, but were then advised by a nurse that they were not effective. They might have blocked the virus from landing on our own clothes, but they did not prevent it being carried from room to room around the home – changing them after every doorway was simply impractical. I mention this to emphasise just how uncertain things were at the time. People were not sure of the best precautions to put in place. We were all treading foreign waters, with advice from government bodies constantly changing.

Nevertheless, as months passed, things started to improve. Residents were gradually allowed to participate in group activities and families were allowed to visit outdoors, as long as they kept a safe distance, proving a great relief for staff, residents, and families.

“I am a sucker for routine and working helped me structure each week.”

Although it was challenging, I am so thankful that I was able to work throughout the pandemic. I know I would have struggled staying at home all day every day without being constantly occupied; so, maintaining a working routine hugely benefited my mental health. I am a sucker for routine and working helped me structure each week.

Being a care worker is also a hugely rewarding role, and certainly one that I never imagined myself in. I am extremely grateful for the experience I gained and the positive impact this had on my mental health throughout lockdown.

Working in a Supermarket

Despite the public gaze being on healthcare staff, it’s easy to forget about the shops that remained open whilst everywhere else was locked down. I spoke to Louisa to find out what it was like to work at a supermarket during the early months of rationing, queues, and one-way systems – when the food shop was the highlight of everybody’s week. Here’s what she had to say.

Having worked in a supermarket for three years, I thought I’d seen it all – that was, until the Coronavirus pandemic began. All of a sudden, working life turned upside down: a third of our staff were off work shielding; demand for products went through the roof; and we had an abundance of new and restrictive rules. While it was obviously incredibly stressful, being able to work undoubtedly saved my mental health during what would have otherwise been an incredibly difficult time.

“Being able to work undoubtedly saved my mental health during what would have otherwise been an incredibly difficult time.”

I found myself working six days a week most weeks and even though it was mentally and physically draining, I was grateful for a reason to get out of the house and the ability to be productive and do something important.

“The mental toll of having to curb the public’s selfishness has not been discussed enough. It was exhausting.”

Whilst there of course existed anxiety around catching the virus, myself and my colleagues found ourselves adopting a very pragmatic attitude towards it: we had a job to do and we would do it as safely as we could. If we caught Covid – then so be it.

“Having something to wake up for and being able to get out of the house has been invaluable to my mental health during this challenging year.”

The most mentally challenging part of the last year was the early days when rationing was in force and the shelves were being stripped bare. I was already tired and stressed without having to navigate peoples’ moral compasses. Rationing sounds like a great way to ensure everyone gets their fair share until you’re behind a till arguing with one customer after another who thinks their need is greater than everyone else’s: “But one’s for me and one’s for my mum…”; “Can I send my husband in to buy another one?”; “But the kids drink whole milk and we drink semi-skimmed”. The mental toll of having to curb the public’s selfishness has not been discussed enough. It was exhausting.

The pandemic has affected everyone’s mental health, however, I count myself lucky to have been able to work throughout. Having something to wake up for and being able to get out of the house has been invaluable to my mental health during this challenging year.

Working as a Critical Care Practitioner

And finally, I spoke to Dewi, a Critical Care Practitioner for Wales Air Ambulance, to find out about his experience working through the pandemic.

“We were all ready to play our part…”

Dewi explained that he had an early insight into the serious nature of the pandemic roughly two months before the UK went into lockdown, as hospitals began preparing for what was to come. He found this unnerving and was especially worried for his older family members, rather than focusing on his own health. He was sure that, by the time lockdown was declared, his team were well resourced and felt safe with the kit available and processes in place.

“We were all ready to play our part,” he said.

Dewi is grateful to work in a sector that has been so heavily relied upon over the past year. He felt lucky to go out to work while others were cooped up at home. Due to the nature of his job, he wasn’t just getting out of the house, he was flying around Wales: “It was bizarre to see empty roads and streets across the country, almost apocalyptic.”

“There is an increasing awareness around the mental health of healthcare workers.”

Inevitably, carrying out the complex medical procedures that his team do became more challenging in PPE, especially as the weather got warmer over the spring and summer months (when everyone else was soaking up the British sun and taking mirror-selfies in their gardens). Dewi said that putting on and particularly taking off PPE was somewhat pressuring as it had to be done in a strict order, and it was additional work on top of already highly complex situations. The pressure proved stressful mentally.

“Managers have been trained to spot behaviours indicating that a staff member is suffering from the pressures of the workload.”

Additionally, PPE had a physical impact on team members: they were becoming fatigued earlier than normal. Therefore, the service adapted by removing heavy flight suits during incidents and wearing lightweight shorts and t-shirt under PPE, to ensure that the health and safety of staff was a priority.

“At the beginning there was a massive sense of duty and service by everyone. Everyone was willing to go above and beyond to help.”

There is an increasing awareness around the mental health of healthcare workers, Dewi believes, with a greater understanding of fatigue, stress, and burnout. He explained that managers have been trained to spot behaviours indicating that a staff member is suffering from the pressures of the workload, and protocols are in place to help avoid further deterioration. This is certainly a positive outcome and will hopefully avoid people suffering alone.

“This is my job. It is what I have chosen to do.”

Despite the challenges, Dewi said that working throughout such turbulent times “has definitely been a rewarding experience. The camaraderie of staff on the Air Ambulance, in the ambulance service and in hospital has been amazing. At the beginning there was a massive sense of duty and service by everyone. Everyone was willing to learn new skills, do extra hours, and go above and beyond to help. I am also of the mindset that this is my job. It is what I have chosen to do.”

He said watching his wife and children stuck at home was far more stressful!

The Round Up

Ultimately, going out to work gave many of us a purpose during a time that felt otherwise confusing and nerve-wracking. Whether it was the routine or the rewarding aspects of the roles themselves, it appears that work was certainly daunting, and yet it positively impacted our mental health. The idea of working towards a greater good, to help others around you that are either vulnerable or scared or in need, is something that all the above jobs encompassed, and despite our own anxieties, it appears that the consistency and value of our work helped us all push through.

Eve Davies 

Follow @eveedaviess

Featured image courtesy of Isaac Benhesed on Unsplash. This image has in no way been altered. Image license is available here.