30 September 2020

Moral injury & mental health: What COVID doctors can learn from HIV

The webinar  brought together perspectives on the mental health challenges that COVID-19 health workers in South Africa have faced.

Specialist psychiatrist, Joanna Taylor, explained the concept of moral injury — the trauma experienced in the face of having to make choices that might not be in line with your moral compass. You can  find and download the presentation here.

Tshepile Tlali, a doctor doing his community service year at a government community health centre in Mdantsane, recounted his experience in treating and being infected with COVID himself.

South African physicians are all too familiar with responding to epidemics, unfortunately.  Francois Venter, the head of Ezintsha at Wits, was a public sector doctor during the height of the HIV pandemic and shared his experiences. 

What rang home for all in attendance was the importance of providing healthcare workers with mental health support and how we as a country need to move closer towards destigmatising it.

Recording of the Webinar