Stress, anxiety, fatigue, distress, frustration, anger are symptoms associated with the various phases of the pandemic. In July 2021, the World Health Organization warned that various effects would be significant in the long term on the mental health of populations. Transmission of the virus, confinement, self-isolation, social exclusion, the contradiction of certain measures, temporary job loss, professional and financial uncertainty, school closures, changes in routine, practically no one emerges unscathed from this singular paradigm. The same goes for the world of work.

Shortness of breath

“Since the beginning of winter 2021, I have observed an increase in shortness of breath. Many clients expressed their dismay, even though many had never had anxiety. They claimed to be losing control… I had to explain to them that a year of adaptation to the crisis could have an impact on their lives.”

“For a while, people thought they wouldn’t be affected. But one day, boom, they were caught up in the crisis like so many others. In the spring and summer of 2021, a wave of hope swept over the Quebec population: the deconfinement, the promises of vaccination, the reopening of businesses… people surfed on a period of enthusiasm and freedom. They could finally breathe. Unfortunately, everything vanished as winter approached.”

Jessy Riel observes that different feelings now inhabit her clients. People are no longer destabilized by the threat of the virus, but rather by the health measures, which change from one month to the next.

“One day the government says this, then the next week it says that,” says the workplace mental health specialist. In other words, many people have lost their way. And this confusion obviously creates anxiety.

“For example, the temporary closure of schools. It is stressful for parents not to know for sure whether their children will actually go to school on the planned date (note that on January 13, the Legault government reaffirmed its desire to reopen schools four days later). This has a major impact on the family unit and at the same time on the professional environment. I must say that parents are also very concerned about the quality of education offered to their children for almost two years… What are citizens clinging to right now? What can employers believe, they who have made many efforts over the course of a year?”

At work, the effects of this uncertainty are palpable. A recent study published in October by management consulting firm LHH of 14,800 workers from 25 countries indicates that they are more exhausted than ever.

40% of Canadian employees say they have suffered from burnout in the past year 27% of Canadian employees feel their work-life balance has deteriorated in the past year.

54% of young leaders report having suffered from burnout and three in ten report that their mental and physical health has declined in the past 12 months.

In Ms. Riel's opinion, about half of the Quebec workers who have called on her services since December are closely linked to the impact of COVID-19. "People have long rallied behind Public Health. Right now, my clients are questioning the relevance of these efforts. Trust is waning. There is a lot of disappointment and discouragement. Human beings do not like gray areas, because it is anxiety-provoking. The moral and physical fatigue, already present last year, has been exacerbated since December. Frustration is added to the exhaustion."

“Last winter, mental health issues were mostly caused by isolation and loneliness. Now, I see that the causes have changed under the effects of doubt and confusion: anger, disgust, despondency have taken over. The spectrum has changed compared to last year. 18 months later, I am still talking about COVID-19, but the feelings have changed. And clearly, these symptoms will be detected for a long time.”

Heavy baggage at work

Jessy Riel's clients, who come from companies of all kinds, often express that this heavy personal baggage is "transported" into their professional environment. The employee, tired and stressed, rubs shoulders with an equally preoccupied boss.

“It is certainly not an easy time for workers, but employers are also very affected by the health crisis,” she says.

Indeed, they have to deal with a multitude of problems linked to the financial fragility of their company, the shortage of manpower, the restrictions, the temporary and unpredictable closures of businesses, suppliers, partners, etc.

“There’s a lot of friction between managers and employees. I talk a lot about the importance of flexibility and leniency. During a consultation session, I always remind my client of the employer’s reality. Empathy is key to a better relationship. Everyone is navigating this pandemic context. Sometimes people forget this because they’re stuck in their shit! How can we stay on course without burning out? In particular, we need to avoid the dangers of rumination.”

According to Jessy Riel, new clients have emerged due to the crisis. Certainly, the workplace has been extremely disrupted. People are not aware of their vulnerability to COVID-19. They lack nuance in their analysis. In addition, many workers are slow to ask for support, whether from their company's human resources department...

Any tips for mitigating the negative impacts of the pandemic on yourself?

"We need to take a step back, rest, externalize our excess, qualify our analysis of the crisis, avoid catastrophic scenarios, choose our sources of information carefully, reduce the hours of exposure to the media, spend quality time with family or as a couple, rediscover the little pleasures of life, live in the present moment..."