The emergency
A pandemic is spreading through the city where I work as a public health official.
My name is Patricia. I am 55 years old and have lived here my entire life, which makes every decision feel deeply personal. As conditions worsen, the pressure becomes relentless. I am expected to respond quickly, make high-stakes decisions, and communicate clearly as fear and anger rise around me.
My role was never meant to be so public, but now I must face cameras, protests, and growing hostility. Receiving death threats and being forced to change where I work and park leaves me feeling betrayed and shaken after decades of serving this community.
At the same time, I feel profoundly responsible for managing the crisis. I am terrified of bringing the illness home to my wife and children and afraid of being harassed or attacked while I’m with them. I spend less time with my family because I am always on call, which feels isolating, even as I tell myself it keeps them safer.
I also worry constantly about my co-workers and the impact my decisions have on them.
How CanEMERG can help
We have fact sheets, tool kits, and resources for leaders like Patricia — on both the personal and systemic levels.
- Fact sheet: Tips for problem solving
- Coping with stress, trauma, and posttraumatic stress
- Guidelines to support staff in disaster preparedness
- Check your mental health status
- Personal mental health and wellness tool kit
- Community mental health and wellness recovery tool kit
Help is within reach.
