The American College of Surgeons (ACS) commits itself to the health and well-being of surgeons and the health care community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to create space to care for oneself amidst the increased demands of caring for patients, providing additional support to hospital systems and staff, managing workload, and navigating the impact COVID-19 has on individuals, families, communities, hospitals, and our world. Below you will find curated tools and resources focused on well-being during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
ACS Surgeon Well-Being Index
The ACS offers this as a free resource to Fellows, Associate Fellows, and resident surgeons in the United States and Canada. Consider using the ACS Surgeon Well-Being Index to assess and track your overall well-being and identify areas of risk compared to physicians and residents across the nation. Access to local and national resources will also be targeted to you based on your results. This video guide and user guide [LINK USER GUIDE to PDF attached with footprints submission] are useful resources for understanding how to use the Well-Being Index. To start using the tool, Associate Fellows and Fellows can use the code fellow20 and resident surgeons can use the code resident20. The tool is 100% anonymous—your information and score is private and your individual score will not be shared with anyone, including the ACS. Access for International members is not available at this time.
Contact Us
For more information about Surgeon Well-Being, Physician Well-Being Index tool or other listed resources, or to recommend additional resources to add to this site, please contact Kathleen McCann at kmccann@facs.org or Jenny Mohan at jmohan@facs.org.
Articles and Resources
Diversity and Inclusion
Health Care Workforce
Intimate Partner Violence and Well-Being
Leadership
5 ways to safeguard clinician well-being amid the COVID-19 pandemic Source: Becker’s Hospital Review
9 ways Covid-19 may forever upend the U.S. health care industry Source: STAT
Burnout Isn’t Just in Your Head. It’s in Your Circumstances Source: The New York Times
Calming Your Brain During Conflict Source: Harvard Business Review
Coping with Fatigue, Fear, and Panic During a Crisis Source: Harvard Business Review
Coronavirus: How to Support the Mental Health of Your Healthcare Workers Source: HealthLeaders
COVID-19: Peer Support and Crisis Communication Strategies to Promote Institutional Resilience Source: Annals of Internal Medicine
COVID-19 Self Care: Tips From The World Health Organization Source: NPR
Develop a buddy system: Share in safety and well-being of peers. Source: CDC
Diversity & Inclusion Must Remain Front and Center in a COVID-19 World Source: Diversity Best Practices
Emergency Responders: Tips for taking care of yourself. Source: CDC
Exercising Heart and Head in Managing Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Wuhan Source: JAMA
Factors Associated with Mental Health Outcomes Among Health Care Workers Exposed to Coronavirus Disease 2019 Source: JAMA
Grief Leadership During COVID-19 Source: CSTS
Hospitalist well-being during the COVID-19 crisis Source: The Hospitalist
How Can Employers Design an Effective Burnout Strategy for Physicians Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic? Source: AJMC
How Canada used a hackathon to create an app to reach IPV survivors through EAPs Source: BC Technology
How Diversity Heads Are Steering Their Companies through The COVID-19 Crisis Source: Forbes
How to avoid burnout amid a pandemic Source: BBC
How UCSF Created An App to Monitor Staff for COVID-19—and Support Their Mental Health Source: AdvisoryBoard
In a COVID-19 world, pace yourself to stay resilient and avoid burnout Source: MHS
Lockdown is the world's biggest psychological experiment—and we will pay the price Source: World Economic Forum
Mental Health Behavioral Guidelines in Preparedness and Response Source: CSTS
Mental health care for medical staff in China during the COVID-19 outbreak Source: The Lancet
The Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 and Physical Distancing, The Need for Prevention and Early Intervention Source: JAMA
Mental Wellbeing for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic Source: The Joint Commission
Mindset Matters: 4 Mental Health Strategies To Increase Organizational Strength During COVID-19 Source: Forbes
Pandemics: Healthcare Emergencies Source: Chapter 18 in textbook, Disaster Psychiatry
Preparing for COVID-19-Induced PTSD Among Health Care Providers Source: Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Learning Network
Preserving mental health and resilience in frontline healthcare workers during COVID-19 Source: AJEM
Promoting psychological well-being in the face of serious illness: when theory, research and practice inform each other Source: NIH
Provider Resilience: Assessing Compassion Fatigue and Cultivating Well-Being in Challenging Times (COVID-19) Source: MAHEC
Psychological First Aid Source: NCTSN
The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence Source: The Lancet
Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health Care Workers in Singapore Source: Annals of Internal Medicine
Psychological Trauma Is the Next Crisis for Coronavirus Health Workers Source: Scientific American
Repository of Resources from the Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience Source: National Academies of Medicine
A Second Pandemic: Mental Health Spillover from the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Source: Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Self-Care in Unprecedented Times Source: Rush Hospital
Seven crucial research findings that can help people deal with COVID-19 Source: APA
Seven things you can do today to help improve your mental health amidst COVID-19 Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Medicine, Department of Surgery
Starter list: How you can support frontline staff during the Covid-19 crisis Source: Advisory Board
Suicides of two health care workers hint at the Covid-19 mental health crisis to come Source: STAT
Supporting Families of Healthcare Workers Exposed to COVID-19 Source: CSTS
Supporting the Health Care Workforce During the COVID-19 Global Epidemic Source: JAMA
Sustaining the Well-Being of Healthcare Personnel during Coronavirus and Other Infection Disease Outbreaks Source: Center for Study of Traumatic Stress
That Discomfort You're Feeling Is Grief Source: Harvard Business Review
Understanding and Addressing Sources of Anxiety Among Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic Source: JAMA
Voicing the need for a national strategy for long-term well-being Source: AMA
“We Are in a War”: Mitigating Burnout in COVID-19 Source: CAPC
What Is Doctor Burnout Costing America? Source: NPR
When Leaders Model Openness About Their Mental Health Source: Harvard Business Review
Why the global response to coronavirus needs leadership from all of us Source: World Economic Forum
COVID-19 Well-Being Recommendations for Health Care Administrators: The Well-Being Index Team offers ideas for health care administrators to consider implementing to reduce street. Applying some or all of them will substantially increase the overall well-being of your staff
- Offer living accommodations for ICU/ER physicians who live with a vulnerable family member, so they do not have to go home (e.g., on-campus, hotel).
- Provide meal credit (e.g., Uber Eats, delivery) for those working extra shifts or unanticipated overtime.
- Make dictation and transcription services available to all in the ICU/hospital/ER.
- Redeploy health care workers with known health conditions that place them at elevated risk for complications should they contract COVID-19 to other settings.
- Require workers to take breaks to recharge and encourage adequate time off between shifts.
- Halt all required online modules and non-essential tasks.
- Provide taxi and ridesharing fare reimbursement to all employees directly engaged in COVID-19 efforts.
Source: The Well-Being Index
Mental Health
Microaggressions and Well-Being
Pay Equity and Employment
Suicide Prevention
Well-Being
Online Tools
Podcasts and Interviews
Apps and Tools
Webinars and Virtual Meet Ups
National Organizations and Hotlines
Disaster Distress Hotline
The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-days-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States
National Alliance for Mental Health (NAMI)
The NAMI resource booklet covers a variety of topics from experiencing anxiety, concerns about businesses, health care, substance abuse disorders, and more. NAMI also offers phone and online support if you need someone to talk to. The NAMI HelpLine is open 10am-6pm, Eastern at 1-800-950-6264, by e-mail at info@nami.org, or by texting "NAMI" to 74141.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
Support is available 24/7. Call 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-799-7233 for TTY, or if you’re unable to speak safely, you can log onto thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 22522. Click here for an interactive guide to safety planning.
National Parent Helpline
Monday through Friday, 12:00 noon–7:00 pm Central, 1-855-427-2736
The National Sexual Assault Hotline
Available 24/7, confidential and free, 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or via chat.
Suicide Prevention Hotline
Supporting your emotional well-being during the COVID-19 Outbreak—Resources provided by Suicide Prevention Lifeline with COVID-19 focus. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is open 24/7 offering free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. 1-900-273-8255