In the name of God,

The provincial webinar titled"Stress Management Solutions for Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic"was held on Wednesday, August 4, 2020, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. This webinar was organized by the Nursing Management Education Unit of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and the Community-Based Psychiatric Care Research Center. The main objective was to enhance the mental health of hospital staff and healthcare workers by providing practical methods and tools to manage stress during the COVID-19 crisis.

Working in a crisis situation is particularly stressful for healthcare providers, as they face risks such as exposure to the virus, concern for their loved ones, heavy workloads, separation from family, difficult decision-making in critical conditions, and witnessing patient suffering. Therefore, stress prevention and management for healthcare providers is essential. In this webinar, the epidemiological aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic were first discussed, with detailed explanations on the infection rate and mortality rate in Iran and around the world, using charts to illustrate the situation since the start of the pandemic.

The webinar then moved on to the psychological aspects and the mental health damage caused by working under these conditions. The signs and symptoms of stress in individuals were examined in detail. It was emphasized that the prolonged and excessive workload during this pandemic, particularly in intensive care units, has led to psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress among healthcare workers. Over time, these issues can affect the individuals themselves, their family and work relationships, and overall life quality. Symptoms of these issues include irritability, exhaustion, fatigue, sleep disorders, etc. The webinar stressed the importance of mutual support, motivation, and providing stress control methods to prevent burnout and improve work productivity.

Another key topic discussed was the impact of social media and negative news on stress. The webinar highlighted that managing social media usage, such as on Instagram, plays an important role in stress reduction. Additionally, listening to calming music, reading motivational books, watching uplifting films, and reading positive news can contribute to improving hope and peace among healthcare workers.

The webinar also provided various practical solutions for mental health and better adaptation during this crisis. Among the methods discussed were Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) exercises, self-care practices at the individual and family levels, relaxation exercises, gardening, journaling, creating personal and physical discipline, controlling negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, reading useful and positive books, lifestyle changes, and practicing physical activities such as yoga. These strategies were explained in detail with practical examples.

This webinar proved to be a significant step toward providing valuable knowledge and strategies for healthcare workers, enabling them to manage the psychological pressures of working in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.