Keywords
Nursing
Floods
Psychological resilience
Mental health
Health professionals
How to Cite
Abstract
Objective: To analyze the impact on the mental health of health professionals who worked during the floods that occurred in Rio Grande do Sul. Method: This qualitative study was conducted in the Vale do Taquari based on interviews with nurses, nursing technicians, a physician, and a pharmacist who worked in health services during the floods. Interviews were submitted to Bardin’s content analysis. Results: Two categories emerged: i) perceptions and feelings of professionals in the face of the challenges of the floods, focusing on the impacts on the mental health of health professionals, including individual and collective suffering, intense fear, and anticipatory anxiety, with lasting repercussions; and ii) coping strategies used by health professionals during the floods, highlighting the formation of support networks, team unity, dialogue, and the reorganization of workflow. Conclusion: The mental health of professionals was significantly impacted, marked by suffering, intense fear, and persistent anxiety. Despite the difficulties, protective strategies were developed, such as the construction of support networks, strengthening of dialogue, and reorganization of work. Prior preparation of professionals and the health care network for action in climate crisis situations is recommended, with the aim of minimizing harm.
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