Around the world, nurses are working under enormous pressure providing care to sick and dying patients during the pandemic. Many are faced with increased stress, and other negative effects on their mental health. They are also faced with the possibility of infection and death from COVID-19. Before the pandemic there was a global shortage of nurses, but this is likely to be exacerbated by the increased demands of caring during COVID-19 as well as the usual care of non-COVID patients

During this short video, essential workers from around the world from the health, emergency and humanitarian sectors share their personal stories about mental health and work.

Compassion fatigue is characterized by physical and emotional exhaustion and a profound decrease in the ability to empathize. The term compassion fatigue was first used in the context of the study of burnout in nurses

In 2018, the National Department of Health launched the Side-By-Side campaign for pregnant women and caregivers of children under five years, with the goal of ensuring that all children receive the nurturing care and protection they need to reach their full potential

Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2014;35(3):179–85

International Journal of Mental Health Systems2011,5:17http://www.ijmhs.com/content/5/1/17