Recommendations for professionals

ESTSS guidelines for mental health professionals

  • Focusing on the most vulnerable groups is essential to ensure effective mental health care. People in quarantine are particularly vulnerable to the development of mental health difficulties. Evidence shows that quarantine can lead to negative mental health outcomes such as symptoms of traumatic stress, anxiety, anger. It is also essential to ensure that basic human needs are met (e.g. cooperation, willingness to be listened to and informed, etc.) and that adequate mental health support is provided to those who are isolated. It is important to limit quarantine to only those cases deemed necessary and to implement it in the least traumatic way possible (useful links in English below):

thttps://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/coronavirus-outbreak-covid19-cases-quarantine-mental-health-1652639-2020-03-05

https://www.sisst.it/covid-19-english-version/

Additional tools for working with clients

You can find EMDR Europe Association’s guidelines for mental health professionals who work with people who are particularly worried about COVID-19 virus here. These guidelines are adapted from the EMDR approach, but the information may also be relevant for professionals who do not use this approach.

The Crisis Kit (English) provides positive psychology exercises that will help you when working with clients experiencing severe anxiety.

Self-protection for First Responders and Health Professionals

Guidelines on how to communicate bad news over the telephone

Behavioural strategies for reducing covid-19 transmission in the general population