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Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits

Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.

Become a Member
Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits

Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.

Membership Benefits
ACS
COVID-19

Assistance and Well-Being

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.

Contact Us

For more information about Surgeon Well-Being 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

A "Full-Blown She-Cession": How COVID-19 Is Economically Hurting Women, Minorities the Most Source: NBC News
Academic medical leaders and learners reflect on police brutality, racism, and the path forward Source: Association of American Medical Colleges
Black medical leaders: Coronavirus magnifies racial inequities, with deadly consequences Source: USA Today
Boston Doctor Becomes Victim of COVID-19 Racism. Here Is How We Should Respond Source: Forbes
Combating Bias and Stigma Related to COVID-19 Source: APA
Coronavirus: Fear of Asians Rooted in Long American History of Prejudicial Policies Source: UC Berkeley
Coronavirus is the ultimate demonstration of the real-world impact of racism Source: The Guardian
COVID-19: Acknowledging and Addressing Racism and Xenophobia Source: AHA
COVID-19 Will Pass. Will We Be Able to Say the Same About the Racism It Has Illuminated? Source: STAT
Covidisparity: How The Pandemic Is Highlighting Racial Biases In Health, Employment And Wealth Source: Forbes
Diversity, Equity And Inclusion: What The Coronavirus Teaches And How We Must Respond Source: Forbes
How COVID-19 is affecting physicians of color across the country Source: AMA
How to Respond to Coronavirus Racism Source: Teaching Tolerance
Inequity in Crisis Standards of Care Source: NEJM
Physicians detail COVID-19’s impact in Latinx communities Source: AMA
Racial health disparities already existed in America—the coronavirus just exacerbated them Source: CNBC
Racism and discrimination in COVID-19 responses Source: The Lancet
Reducing Stigma Source: CDC
State, Local Officials Highlight Racial Disparities in Coronavirus Deaths Source: US News
Stop Blaming Black People for Dying of the Coronavirus Source: The Atlantic
The new coronavirus affects us all. But some groups may suffer more. Source: AAMC
This new Twitter bot has Asian front-line workers responding directly to COVID-19 racism Source: Fast Company
We need equity-oriented solutions to COVID-19, not stigma, discrimination and fear Source: Public Health News
What the COVID-19 Pandemic Tells Us About Gender Equality Source: World Economic Forum

Health Care Workforce

7 Tips for Managing Stress, Burnout During the COVID-19 Crisis Source: General Surgery News
A Double Whammy: The COVID-19 Pandemic and Burnout in Medical Professionals Source: The Harvard Medical School, Lean Forward
12 Easy Ways to Be More Optimistic, According to ‘Optimism Doctor,’ Dr. Deepika Chopra
Source: Forbes
Another Workplace Crisis: Loneliness Source: HBR
Build Your Resilience in the Face of a Crisis Source: Harvard Business Review
Caring For Yourself in the Face of Difficult Work Source: NIEHS
Colleagues Become Confidants in the Age of Coronavirus Source: The Wall Street Journal
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Beyond: Micropractices for Burnout Prevention and Emotional Wellness Source: JACR
Could you get PTSD from your pandemic experience? The long-term mental health effects of coronavirus Source: CNBC
COVID-19: Socially distant yet never closer Source: Society for Vascular Surgery
Doctors In Training Learn Hard Lessons During The Pandemic Source: NPR
How Nurses Can Protect Themselves as They Work to Save Others Source: Nursing@Georgetown
How to Build Your Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic Source: Everyday Health
How to Help Healthcare Providers Cope with COVID-19’s Psychological Toll Source: The Cleveland Clinic Consult QD
How to Take Care of Yourself When You’re a First Responder During the Coronavirus Pandemic Source: Thrive Global
I’m an E.R. Doctor in New York. None of Us Will Ever Be the Same Source: New York Times Magazine
In a COVID-19 World, Mental Health Is Workforce Health Source: Forbes
Losing Patients to COVID-19 and Managing Grief Source: The Cleveland Clinic
Maintaining Wellbeing Amidst the Fear and Uncertainty of COVID-19 by Taylor S. Riall, MD, FACS Source: Association of Women Surgeons
Managing Coronavirus Fears Source: The New York Times
Managing mental health during COVID-19 Source: American Medical Association
Mental Health and Coping during COVID-19 Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mental health crisis looms in providers’ rush to care Source: Boston Globe
Mental Health Needs of Health Care Workers Providing Frontline COVID-19 Care Source: JAMA
My Bedside Manner Got Worse During The Pandemic. Here's How I Improved Source: NPR
Purpose and Productivity Aren’t the Same: Embracing a New Metric During a Pandemic Source: Forbes
Service to Others May Be the Answer to Physician Burnout Source: JAMA
Speaking of Psychology: The Role of Resilience in the Face of COVID-19 with Ann Masten, PhD Source: American Psychological Association
Staying Sane and Current on COVID-19 Source: MedPage Today
Suicides of two health care workers hint at the Covid-19 mental health crisis to come Source: STAT
Supporting Healthcare Professionals During Unprecedented Times Source: The Schwartz Center
The COVID-19 crisis too few are talking about: Health care worker’s mental health Source: STAT
Video Modules on Disaster Behavioral Health Self Care for Healthcare Workers Source: ASPR
Voicing the need for a national strategy for long-term well-being Source: AMA
Want to Stay Healthy? Having Purpose Is an Ideal Starting Point Source: Forbes
We Are Doctors Who Study Trauma. Here’s How to Cope With the COVID-19 Crisis. Source: Huffington Post
We’re Not Ready for This Kind of Grief Source: The Atlantic
We just became doctors. Our first assignment is the coronavirus Source: National Geographic

Intimate Partner Violence and Well-Being

A Double Pandemic: Domestic Violence in the Age of COVID-19 Source: Council on Foreign Relations
ACS Intimate Partner Violence
Source: American College of Surgeons
Alarming trends in US domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic Source: AJEM
COVID-19: Reducing the risk of infection might increase the risk of intimate partner violence Source: The Lancet
COVID-19 and violence against women and how the health sector/system can help Source: World Health Organization
Danger in danger: Interpersonal violence during COVID-19 quarantine Source: Psychiatry Research
Domestic Violence Amid COVID-19: Helping Your Patients From Afar Source: Medscape
Domestic violence in the age of coronavirus: What happens when you're stuck at home, but home isn't safe? Source: USA Today
Domestic Violence Seen As Rising During COVID-19 Lockdown Source: PsychCentral
How domestic abuse gets missed as America stays home Source: AMA
Increased Risk for Family Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic Source: Pediatrics
An Increasing Risk of Family Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Strengthening Community Collaborations to Save Lives Source: Forensics Science International: Reports
Information on COVID-19 for abuse survivors, communities, and domestic violence and sexual assault programs Source: Futures Without Violence
Intimate Partner Violence and Child Abuse Considerations During COVID-19 Source: SAMHSA
Is Domestic Violence Rising During the Coronavirus Shutdown? Here’s What the Data Shows. Source: The Marshall Project
It’s hard to flee from your domestic abuser during a coronavirus lockdown Source: NBC News
‘Lessons never learned’ — How COVID-19 affects domestic violence rates Source: Medical News Today
Not Always Safer at Home: COVID-19 and Domestic Violence Source: SWHR
Resources on the Response to the Coronavirus Source: National Network to End Domestic Violence
Tech Is a Double-Edged Lifeline for Domestic Violence Victims Source: Wired
The pandemic paradox: The consequences of COVID‐19 on domestic violence Source: JCN
‘There’s No Escape’: Coronavirus Prompts New Tactics to Fight Domestic Violence Source: Wall Street Journal
UN chief calls for domestic violence ‘ceasefire’ amid ‘horrifying global surge’ Source: United Nations

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

13 potential long-term effects the coronavirus pandemic could have on mental health Source: Business Insider
39% say coronavirus stress, worry is taking mental health toll Source: American Medical Association (AMA)
A mental health crisis is brewing. Here's how governments can prepare Source: World Economic Forum
COVID-19 effect on mental health: Patients and workforce
Source: The Lancet
COVID-19: Peer Support and Crisis Communication Strategies to Promote Institutional Resilience
Source: Annals of Internal Medicine
COVID-19's Psychological Toll: Mental Distress Among Americans Has Tripled During the Pandemic Compared to 2018 Source: TIME
Coping with sickness and stress Source: AAMC
Countering COVID-19’s Mental Health Impact Source: U.S. News
Cultivating Deliberate Resilience During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Source: JAMA
Front-Line Doctors Face a Mental Health Crisis Amid Coronavirus. Can Medicine Overcome the Culture of Stoicism? Source: ABC News
Global mental health and COVID-19 Source: The Lancet
Health experts on the psychological cost of Covid-19 Source: The Guardian
Health Workers Become Unexpected Targets During COVID-19 Source: The Economist
How an Epidemic Outbreak Impacts Happiness: Factors that Worsen (vs. Protect) Emotional Well-being during the Coronavirus Pandemic Source: Psychiatric Research Journal
I Can’t Turn My Brain Off: PTSD and Burnout Threaten Medical Workers Source: New York Times
"I'm Never Going to Be the Same": Medics Grapple with Mental Trauma on COVID-19 Front Line Source: Reuters
In the Face of COVID-19, the U.S. Needs to Change How it Deals with Mental Illness Source: STAT
Is the Pandemic Sparking Suicide? Source: New York Times
Mental Health America Releases May 2020 Screening Data; 88,000 Have Anxiety Or Depression, And Results Point To Possible Epidemic Of Suicidal Ideation Source: Mental Health America (MHA)
Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic* Source: NEJM
Mental Health of Young Physicians in China During the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak Source: JAMA
Mental Health Care for Medical Staff and Affiliated Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic Source: European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care
Mental Health Outcomes Among Frontline and Second-Line Health Care Workers During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic in Italy Source: JAMA
A Monday Is a Tuesday Is a Sunday as COVID-19 Disrupts Internal Clocks Source: Scientific American
Prioritizing Physician Mental Health as COVID-19 Marches On Source: JAMA
The Science of Well-Being Source: Yale
‘Some Of The Greatest Causes Of Misery’: U.N. Warns Of Pandemic’s Mental Health Costs Source: NPR
Suicide risk and prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic Source: The Lancet
Surge in anxiety and depression show coronavirus toll on mental health in America Source: The Washington Post
Zoom Psychiatrists Prep for COVID-19’s Endless Ride Source: Scientific American

Microaggressions and Well-Being

How to Respond to Microaggressions Source: New York Times

Pay Equity and Employment
Suicide Prevention
Well-Being

Online Tools

Podcasts and Interviews

#FirstRespondersFirst Webinar Gives Healthcare Workers Tools to Safeguard Their Well-being (The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)

COVID-19 and Anxiety: Actionable Tools for the Care Team (Wolters Kluwer Health)

Lessons in Resilience for Trainees

Road to Resilience Podcast (Mount Sinai Hospital)

Speaking of Psychology: Coronavirus Anxiety: A podcast from the American Psychological Association focusing on public perception of risk and human judgment and decision-making along with why people worry about new risks more than familiar ones, how to calm anxiety, and the psychological effects of being quarantine.

Talks for when you feel totally burned out (TED)

Apps and Tools

The Art of Living: Evidence-based breathing techniques to keep you resilient and strong on the frontlines from The Art of Living

Fitness Blender: A free exercise website offering variety of workouts

Headspace: A meditation and sleep app; free for health care workers. You’ll need your NPI number and e-mail to sign up.

Mindful Breathing Exercise (Greater Good at Berkeley)

Mini Modules to Relieve Stress for Healthcare Workers Responding to COVID-19: Stress Management Exercise Source: ASPR

Mini-relaxation exercises: A quick fix in stressful moments

MY3: Let’s you stay connected when you are having thoughts of suicide

Professional Quality of Life Scale (PROQOL)

Work Health Survey

Webinars and Virtual Meet Ups

Disaster Responder Assets Network Peer Support Meeting

Emotional Well-Being During the COVID-19 Crisis for Health Care Providers Webinar Series (University of California-San Francisco)

Meditate Together: COVID-19 support initiative from The Mindful Leader that offers daily, free live and online group meditation, reflection, and support

Supporting Clinician Well-Being during COVID-19 Source: National Academy of Medicine’s (NAM) Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience

Wellness Wednesdays: A Community Connection: A weekly lunchtime event hosted by The University of Arizona Health Sciences to promote nutritious foods, healthy minds, and strong bodies.

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