Tennessee’s health care workers and first responders who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic response have a new resource to help them grapple with stress, anxiety, sadness or depression related to work.
Lizzie Harrigan, chairwoman at the Mental Health Active Response Team, one of the organizations that helped develop the service, said it offers an avenue for health care workers to express emotions they otherwise might not have an outlet for.
“We know that they’re going home to their families, and maybe they don’t want to take some of these concerns and feeling home to their families,” Harrigan said. “And so, where do they put it? We wanted them to put it with us.”
The COVID-19 Emotional Support Line for health-care workers can be reached at 888-642-7886, and is staffed by volunteer mental-health professionals.
Harrigan said the phone line is staffed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
Photo: Front line workers are experiencing high levels of stress related to the COVID-19 crisis. (Adobe Stock)
