Psychological Impact of Working during the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Staff of the University Hospital Mohammed VI in Marrakesh

Health care workers around the world have been through a stressful time during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the face of uncertainty, the risk of contamination, the remoteness of caregivers from their families and many other factors, the quality of life of people on the front lines has been affected. In response, the mental health research team at the Mohammed VI University Hospital in Marrakech set up a listening and psychological support unit and conducted a study to assess the impact of work during the pandemic on health care staff. We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study of 218 people (professors, doctors, nurses, technicians, students). Almost ¾ of participants (71.2%) had never received stress management training, 16.1% of subjects had a history of depression, generalized anxiety disorder in 6.4%, panic disorder in 2.8% and bipolar disorder in 0.9%. The psychological impact of work during the pandemic was marked by family health concerns in 37.1% of cases, 15.5% insomnia, fear of being contaminated 11.3%, anxiety 9.3%, sadness 9.3%, obsession 1.5% and suicidal ideation 1%. Only 5.7% of participants said they had called the listening cell and psychological support, 8.3% of subjects asked for a face-to-face consultation, and hospitalization was required in 1.8% of cases.