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gartens, which prohibited these healthcare workers from going to kindergartens.1) Children of health-care workers were bullied and harassed, denied admission to nursery schools, and refused carriage by taxi drivers.2) A study of 10,511 healthcare workers who responded to SARS found that 49% were subject to social criticism and 31% to family inhibition. The damage to mental health among these workers caused by discrimination is a matter that requires attention.3)The mental health of medical staff has been greatly affected by the social situation, the media coverage of the COVID-19 epidemic, and the PPE shortages in hospitals. When considering the mental health of medical professionals, it is neces-sary to address and resolve the problems with society and the work environment.Self-care of healthcare workerVarious factors can make it difficult to ask for professional help with mental health problems. These include stigma, inactivity, cost, convenience, and the belief that the problem can be resolved alone.4) Therefore, the prevention of depression and anxiety disorders among healthcare workers requires individual self-care.The first step in self-care is awareness. The COVID-19 pandemic might be comparable to the Black Death of the 14th century, the cholera outbreak of the 19th and 20th centuries, and the Spanish flu of 1918. The impact this global health crisis has had on mental health is immeasurable. The hard work of healthcare workers across the world deserves a great deal of praise. They are at the forefront of the fight against a global crisis the likes of which are seen once in hundreds of years. It is necessary to understand that worry is a natural response to such a difficult situation. Self-care must include appropriate self-analysis and concrete measures to solve the emotional and practical prob-lems one faces. Work satisfaction is negatively correlated with psychosocial issues so dealing effec-tively with issues at work is vital to mental health.5) WHO provides useful guidelines on specific methods of self-care.6) Interested readers should consult the web link in the reference for further details.When medical staff encounter problems in the work environment, it is important to coordinate with the hospital to promptly improve the system. 26This paper will consider the efforts made to address the possible detrimental effects of COVID-19 on mental health among healthcare workers at the Juntendo Clinic of the Juntendo University School of Medicine. These efforts have focused on encour-aging self-care among staff. Specifically, this has consisted of self-care through improvements to lifestyle and improved communication. We shall consider each of these in turn.COVID-19 created new societal norms and changed our lifestyles significantly. Insomnia is a particular issue among healthcare workers. There have been numerous reports of insomnia among healthcare workers dealing with COVID-19.7) Causes of insomnia can include stress, lack of exercise, drinking and smoking, evening caffeine intake, and browsing smartphones and computers before going to bed. Because COVID-19 restricts social activity, individuals find themselves at home more and this can lead to lethargy and inactivity. Lifestyle analysis is necessary if insomnia is to be addressed. Does the individual skip meals or overeat? Do they drink a lot of alcohol alone at home? Are they absorbed in social media until just before going to bed? Such bad habits should be corrected immediately.To improve quality of life, one must make the conscious decision to “Act-Belong-Commit.”8) “Act” means engagement in activities one enjoys. It may include taking a walk, listening to music, and talking to or spending time with friends. “Belong” refers to engagement with other people; this means belonging to social groups and actively partici-pating in events or hobby groups. “Commit” refers to involvement in, and commitment to, activities, causes, or organizations. Mental health can be maintained by actively engaging in desirable activ-ities to achieve positive life changes.Excessive exposure to information about COVID- 19 during off-hours is not desirable. A great deal of the information about COVID-19 on the Internet is based on insufficient evidence and is often purposely emotive. It is important to switch off one’s mind before going to bed to prevent insomnia. It is also necessary to consciously select the information to which we attend. Healthcare workers dealing with COVID-19 during working hours should take particular care to avoid too much attention to the Improvements in lifestyle

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