Effect of the covid 19 pandemic's early phase on the psychological health of healthcare professionals compared to the essential workers and general population

The Corona virus has affected the mental health of primary frontline healthcare workers as well as those who are working in supermarkets and drivers referred as essential workers. The present prospective cross sectional study was thoroughly planned to compare the mental health status of healthcare workers versus other essential workers in the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
The participants were selected by snowball sampling technique from Bareilly, Uttarpradesh, India. The present prospective cross sectional study was divided into 3 groups: Group A (Healthcare workers), Group B (Essential Workers), and Group C (general population). All the group participants were associated with five points: :1. a loved one dying from COVID 19, 2. family/loved ones' health and well-being, 3. a loved one contracting COVID19, 4. one's own health and well-being, and 5. society's health and well-being. Data was collected as per General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) method which contained questions about the individuals' sociodemographic traits and COVID-19-related questions.
The depression (p<0.001), anxiety (p<0.003), stress (p<0.564), and quality of life levels (p<0.001), were checked in all the three groups and it was found that group A had the best mental stability and maintained the levels of depression. Another finding in our study showed that group C had high levels of depression and anxiety, whereas essential workers had very poor quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Healthcare workers have higher mental health stability than other groups. Moreover, essential workers need more protected equipment and good training for their safety.