Pandemic Brings Mexican Doctors Stress, Mobbing — And Aggression
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MEXICO CITY — Doctors all over the world are suffering from stress, anxiety and depression as they work to stop the coronavirus pandemic. And in Mexico, many are facing similar mental health problems — as well as harassment inside and outside of their hospitals.
Amparo Vera represents Mexico’s National Assembly of Resident Doctors. She said low salaries, work overload, overtime and workplace harassment have affected the mental health of Mexican doctors for years, but the pandemic is making it worse.
“We have to work with less personnel, more hours, without the right equipment,” Vera said.
The doctor said many suffer stress or anxiety as they fear contracting coronavirus. And they have also become targets of public anxiety, Vera says, as people fear health workers are carrying the disease.
According to Vera, some doctors have reported public transportation operators that refuse to drive them, and even attacks with bleach from their neighbors.
News reports indicate that some doctors in public clinics are suffering physical aggression from families who are not allowed to see the body of a relative dead as a result of the coronavirus.
