CSTS | Department of Psychiatry | Uniformed Services University | 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799 | www.CSTSonline.org

Caring for Patients’ Mental Well-Being
During Coronavirus and Other Emerging
Infectious Diseases: A Guide for Clinicians
As our world becomes
medical and mental healthclinicians are likely to encounterincreasingly interconnected, theEspecially in the early stages of an
potential for rapid and far-reaching
patients who are experiencing
emerging infectious disease outbreak, there
various levels of emotional distressspread of new infectious diseases
is frequently a great deal of uncertainty
about the outbreak and its impact
is a growing threat. Especially inon them, their families, and their
the early stages of an emerging
about the nature of the disease, its
communities. Providers should
infectious disease outbreak such as
spread, scope, and impact.
Coronavirus (COVID-19), there is
acknowledge uncertainty about
emerging diseases and help patientsfrequently a great deal of uncertainty
about the nature of the disease, its
understand that there is often an
emotional component to potential health concerns.
spread, scope, and impact. This may lead to significant
and understandable emotional distress, even among those
In addition, providers should consider the following
recommendations for promoting patients’ mental wellwho have not been, and don’t know if they will be, directly
being during emerging infectious disease outbreaks:
exposed to the disease.
During emerging infectious disease outbreaks, both
1. Stay informed. Obtain the latest information about theoutbreak from credible public health resources, such as
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
in order to provide accurate information to yourpatients.
2. Educate. Healthcare providers are on the front lines
of medical intervention and in a position to influencepatient behaviors for protecting individual, family, andpublic health. Patient education plays a critical role inboth containing the disease and mitigating emotional
distress during outbreaks. Depending on the nature of
the outbreak, this can range from education about basic
hygiene such as hand-washing and cough etiquetteto more complex medical recommendations forprevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Let patients knowwhat you, your office, or your organization is doing toreduce the risk of exposure.
3. Correct misinformation. In this age of social media,
misinformation can spread quickly and easily, causing
unnecessary alarm. If patients present you withinaccurate information related to the outbreak, correct
their misconceptions and direct them to vetted publichealth resources.

4. Limit media exposure. Today’s 24-hour news cycle canmake it difficult to turn away from the TV, radio, ornews feed, but research has shown that excessive media
exposure to coverage of stressful events can result innegative mental health outcomes. Use trusted media
outlets to gather the information you need, then turnthem off—and advise your patients to do the same.
5. Anticipate and counsel about stress reactions.
Emotional distress is common in the context ofuncertain and potentially life-threatening situations,such as outbreaks.
a. A good first step for mitigating your patients’stress is to acknowledge that it exists and help
normalize it (“I see that you’re stressed, and that’s
understandable. Many people are feeling this wayright now.”)b. Teach patients to recognize the signs of distress,
including worry, fear, insomnia, difficulty
concentrating, interpersonal problems, avoiding
certain situations at work or in daily living,
unexplained physical symptoms, and increased useof alcohol or tobacco. This will help them become
more aware of the state of their mental healthand head off distress before it becomes harder tomanage.
c. Discuss strategies to reduce distress, which caninclude:
i. Being prepared (e.g., developing a personal/		
family preparedness plan for the outbreak).
ii. Taking everyday preventive measures (e.g., 		frequent handwashing and following coughingetiquette).
iii. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise 		regimen.
iv. Talking to loved ones about worries and 		concerns.
v. Engaging in hobbies and activities you enjoy toimprove your mood.
d. If a patient is experiencing severe emotional
distress or has a diagnosable mental illness, refer for
specialized mental health care.

6. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Healthcare
providers are not invulnerable to experiencing theirown emotional distress during outbreaks, and thisdistress can be compounded by caring for sick anddistressed patients. Make sure you meet your basic
needs: eat, drink, and sleep; take a break when you needone; check in with loved ones; practice the strategies
to reduce distress listed above; and monitor yourself
for stress reactions too. Make efforts to ensure thatyour office and/or organization has a viable plan tomonitor the course of the outbreak and take rapid andappropriate action if needed.
Source of Credible Public Health Information during
Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
https://www.cdc.gov/

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Department of Psychiatry
Uniformed Services University
4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799
www.CSTSonline.org