Behavioral health impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic have caused a surge in behavioral health symptoms across Washington, which is a trend that is likely to continue. To help people who could be more heavily affected by the pandemic, the Washington State Department of Health’s COVID-19 Behavioral Health Group developed the Behavioral Health Group Impact Reference Guide, which describes behavioral health impacts and recommendations for certain occupations and social roles, including health care workers.
This guide is intended to support organizations responding to or helping to mitigate the behavioral health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides a behavioral health impact overview, tools, and recommendations to inform messaging, training, and interventions that are likely to be the most effective at specific phases of the pandemic. The recommendations presented in this guide cover ways that employers and organizations can support individuals (e.g., health care workers) in both their professional and personal lives. Additionally, the Coping during COVID-19 and Ingredients of Resilience infographics are available for emergency and health care professionals.
Visit the Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Resources webpage for additional resources, such as situation reports, impact forecasts, guidance, and recommendations on behavioral health related to COVID-19. For questions about this work, please contact Lindsay Gorgen at DOH-BHadmin@doh.wa.gov.
