Open AccessEmotional support for healthcare professionals children: virtual intervention during COVID-19 pandemic
Author(s) -
Pedro Horta,
Ana Vera Costa,
Sandra da Silva Mendes,
Sofia Pires,
Sara Moutinho Barbosa de Melo,
Joana Calejo Jorge,
Sandra Borges,
M. do V. Araujo,
Graça Mendes
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
infad
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2603-5987
pISSN - 0214-9877
DOI - 10.17060/ijodaep.2021.n2.v1.2174
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , intervention (counseling) , psychology , anxiety , psychosocial , health care , population , medicine , interpersonal communication , preparedness , nursing , psychiatry , social psychology , paleontology , environmental health , economics , biology , economic growth , political science , law
The SARS-CoV2 pandemic context and sanitary confinement measures have exposed the population to anxiety and depressive symptoms and became a permanent mark in children’s psychosocial and affective development. This effect was certainly evident in healthcare professional’s children that saw their parents being called to the battlefield front line against an invisible enemy and at the same time facing the media avalanche propelling fear and insecurity. Material and Methods: This state of restlessness and vulnerability promoted the development of therapeutic mindfulness groups for children or children and parents (healthcare professional related), from a Hospital Reference Center, over a period of eight weeks. Results: Throughout the sessions, high adherence to conscious attention techniques was observed, allowing the children to overcome physical distance obstacles in a virtual context used as a gateway to the living circumstances and the difficulties experienced at the time of the intervention. Discussion: In the end, improvements were reported in anxious and depressive symptoms with greater capacity for emotional regulation, interpersonal communication and impulse management. Conclusion: These results instigated an intervention protocol elaboration and a research project ongoing at the date of this publication.