Anusha Balasubramanian, MRCS, MMED (ORL-HNS)1
Vigneshwar Paleri, MSc2
Robin Bennett, PhD2
Vinidh Paleri, MS, FRCS (ORL-HNS)1
AFFLIATIONS OF AUTHORS :
1 Head and Neck Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
2 Lewisham CAMHS, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR :
Anusha Balasubramanian
Head and Neck Unit,
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust,
London, UK
Tel : +44 7783442155
BRIEF RUNNING TITLE :
COVID-19 mental health impact on surgeons
KEYWORDS :
covid-19 impact, mental health, surgeons, otolaryngology, head neck
CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND FUNDING :
Nil
DISCLOSURE :
None
ABSTRACT
Unprecedented times call for extraordinary measures. While surgeons across the globe try to comprehend the evolving façade of the COVID 19 pandemic and improvise surgical practice to the best of their ability, the psychological impact of the stress on their own mental health and wellbeing has been underestimated. This paper aims to review the indirect and overt factors that may affect the mental health of a surgeon in the present circumstances. Furthermore, it will aim to highlight key coping mechanisms at individual and institutional level, so as to mitigate the negative psychological impact on surgeons.