The Pandemic proved to be the most challenging time this generation has ever seen. Throughout COVID-19, first responders and service providers underwent the biggest transformation of work due to the influx of demand. Their goal was to mitigate the spread of this highly contagious disease while protecting their own health. Without their help, the safety of the community would have been at a bigger risk than normal.
Having to be the front-line personnel in a caring profession when the entire world demands their expertise is no small feat. The burden then becomes infinite, and far outlasts the actual time period of the pandemic. Even today we are still seeing the aftermath of how the pandemic shifted the service provider industry.
The Role of Service Providers and First Responders
By definition, first responders are often the first to arrive at the scene of an emergency. Another term that refers to first responders is emergency response providers, and this group can include anyone from emergency medical service personnel to law enforcement officers. Additionally, service providers are in the professional caring industry, which includes anyone from therapists to homeless shelter workers.
These professions constantly deal with other people's trauma which can take a toll on anyone's mental stability if not handled correctly. Having a huge intake of negative emotions and trauma can produce stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue can be a result of physical, emotional, and spiritual exhaustion from the demands of being a service provider. It is extremely common in today's post-pandemic society and is important to understand how we can regain productivity when dealing with this form of extreme burnout.
How The Pandemic Affected Service Providers and First Responders
The COVID-19 pandemic changed people's commitment to their roles drastically. Service providers and first responders had to adapt to a rapidly changing environment, learn new skills and approaches, and cope with bigger challenges and traumas that the pandemic caused. Subsequently, this has produced mass burnout and compassion fatigue, which majorly affects how these professionals do their jobs.
The symptoms can vary depending on the person, however, the most common symptoms of compassion fatigue and burnout include:
Feeling detached, numb, or emotionally drained
Feelings of helplessness or powerlessness in the face of suffering
Increased anxiety, sadness, or irritability
Feeling overwhelmed or exhausted
Neglect of your own self-care
Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
Adapting to a Post-Pandemic Society
Regaining productivity after dealing with the aftereffects of the pandemic is easier said than done. One way to help cope is practicing mindfulness and keeping track of your thoughts stream throughout the day. Another way is to establish a healthy personal care am and pm routine and find a support system and network.
The cost of caring is sometimes high, and it's easy to get burned emotionally when constantly absorbing trauma. When we feel ourselves start to lose that connection, we need to take a step back to adapt within the industry. Additionally, see my E-book, The Compassion Conundrum: Strategies for First Responders and Service Providers to Prevent Compassion Fatigue, where I discuss the differences between stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue to help better educate yourself on how to cope with your struggles.
Source: Victoria Gallogly (2023) Analyzing the Pandemic’s Impact on Fire and EMS Personnel
Source: PSG (2021) How the Pandemic is Affecting First Responders Mental Health