The World Health Organization (WHO) also expressed concern on the mental well-being of the frontline healthcare workers during this pandemic. The WHO Director-General offered some comfort in his statement, acknowledging that it is understandable that people are afraid and uncertain. He stated that “fear is a natural human response to any threat, especially when it is a threat we don’t completely understand.” He acknowledged how the intensity of the current pandemic could place a lot of strain on healthcare workers as it already has in many countries. He further stated, “Shortages are leaving doctors, nurses and other frontline healthcare workers dangerously ill-equipped to care for COVID-19 patients, due to limited access to supplies such as gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, gowns, and aprons.” He finally emphasized that “we can’t stop COVID-19 without protecting our health workers.”

The perception that COVID-19 is a threat is has significantly increased the risk for anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorders and depression among healthcare service providers. The world is justifiably anxious regarding the danger of COVID-19. However, patients and the public are not the only ones facing the mental stress, the health care workers aren’t spared as well.