Dr Merle Clarke, Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association president says the SLMDA key focus is the mental well-being of healthcare professionals.
Earlier this month the Saint Lucia Fire Service fire chief Ditney Downes shared his concern for the mental well-being of responding officers.
He noted the SLFS has a younger task force between the ages of 24-25 who are exposed to gruesome crime scenes, which can cause a physiological toll.
Dr. Merle Clarke says the mental health of medical professionals is a key focus for the SLMDA, and although medical professionals are trained to withstand gruesome scenes however it does take a toll.
Thus it is important to take care of the mental well-being of individuals within the health sector.
“It’s often taken for granted that health care workers can handle it and are trained to handle it, but the reality of the crime situation and so many other things particularly our ER physicians and surgeons see eventually it can take its toll and we are humans after all, so off course taking care of mental health is something we want to focus on.” Dr Clarke expressed.
“It is something we particularly want to focus on, ensuring that there is training and a commitment to taking care of mental health because this is traumatic psychologically. In as much as we may think we can handle it in this part of the world in particular we are programmed in a sense to think we can handle everything but it does take its toll.” she added.
Photo: Media Stock
