Stress Management Skills in the Physicians Practice of Primary Care Level

Abstract

Current approaches to non-specialized help with stress are set out in this article and stress management tools are provided, which are developed by WHO in the stress management handbook “Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: An Illustrated Guide”. This knowledge is especially current in the giving of first aid in emergencies, and in giving psychosocial support to patients as well, by primary care physicians, who must have effective communication skills and mutual understanding, and have experience in supporting people in difficult situations too, as it is specified in numerous WHO recommendations on mental health, in such as : «mhGAP Intervention Guide for mental, neurological and substance use disorders in nonspecialized health settings», «IASC Guidelines for mental health and psychosocial support in emergency settings»,«mhGAP Humanitarian Intervention Guide (mhGAP-HIG): clinical management of mental, neurological and substance use conditions in humanitarian emergencies», «Support for Rehabilitation: Self-Management after COVID-19 Related Illness» and etc.

Aim – to give the information for the distant self-learning of the primary care professionals to use the simple stress-management tools in difficult circumstances.

Distance learning is built on the basis of the evidence based WHO documents and recommendations about low intensity psychological interventions. The WHO Guide has five sections, where five ideas and techniques for reducing stress are descibed, which are designed as the acquisition of five skills. The authors at the end of each section of the Guide developed algorithms of use the skills of such tools as: «Grounding», «Unhooking», «Acting according to own values», «Showing kindness», «Creating space». The psychosocial support provided by the primary care physician / facilitator / assistant lies in helping people to use guidance and apply strategies in their own lives, and it prevents the professional burnout of healthcare professionals as well.

The short information about WHO guide and stress -management methods are described in sufficient details to enhance the awareness level of the primary care personnel about stress-management tools use.

As the result of using the Guide will enhance the capacity of local helth care staff and non medical staff to provide the mental health services and psychosocial support during the current COVID-19 pandemic, and readiness for the future emergencies.