Interventions to maintain the mental health of healthcare professionals during COVID-19
Keywords:
COVID-19; health personnel; social support; mental health; education, medicalAbstract
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the mental health of healthcare professionals, causing additional feelings of anxiety, depression, distress, and post-traumatic stress.
Objective: To analyse interventions aimed at supporting the mental health of healthcare professionals during the pandemic.
Methods: A systematic literature review was carried out from March to April 2025. Searches were carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, starting in 2020, with no language restrictions. Descriptors encompassing three concepts were used: COVID-19, healthcare professionals, and mental health support interventions. Randomized trials controlled before-and-after studies, and series studies that investigated the effect of any intervention to support mental health were included. Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria for the analysis.
Development: Interventions at the individual, group, and institutional levels with a specific impact on mental health variables are reported. Spain was the country with the most publications. The techniques used to develop interventions included cognitive-behavioural therapy, individual therapy, support groups, psychological first aid training programs, mindfulness, and resilience-based interventions.
Conclusions: Since the beginning of the pandemic, interventions with healthcare professionals have proven effective in addressing stress, anxiety, and burnout. These interventions were consistent and beneficial for those involved and fostered social support among team members.
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