Page 3 - Silver Linings Issue1

A PUBLICATION FOR FRIENDS OF
SILVER HILL HOSPITAL
Silver Linings is a publication for Silver Hill Hospital’s supporters and friends. It will be produced periodically with important news and updates regarding our continued efforts to expand and enhance our facilities and services.
Editor: Chris Bosak, Advancement Writer
Additional Contributors: Patrick Eagan
Dana Harmon Evans Ashley Goldman
Marisa Walker Katie Wieting
Photography Credits:
Chris Bosak Susan Morrow Marisa Walker
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Copyright 2020. Silver Linings is a publication of Silver Hill Hospital. Printed in the USA. All rights reserved.
3
Silver Hill Hospital COVID-19 Resilience Campaign
SILVER LININGS MAGAZINE | PREMIERE 2020
An added
layer of
support for
healthcare
workers
and first
responders
Dr. Stephen Xenakis is no stranger to chaos and persistent uncertain times.
The former Army brigadier general was commissioned during the Vietnam War and trained soldiers on how to prepare for the unknown and deal with the accompanying stress. He has had a long and successful career in psychiatry – including helping former soldiers with PTSD and suicide prevention – and finds that employing a disciplined mindset is critical in times of crisis.
Dr. Xenakis leads the Silver Hill Hospital COVID-19 Resilience Campaign, which aims to keep first responders and frontline workers at medical facilities mentally and emotionally resilient in the face
of the deadly virus. The campaign will offer in-person crisis support
to frontline medical staff as well as virtual counseling, workshops and online resources. It was created to
fill in the gaps left by other COVID-19 programs. The suicides of high- profile frontline workers highlight the need for these types of programs.
A recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that a startling number of doctors and nurses in China have experienced worrisome levels of depression, anxiety and insomnia.
The study also showed that more than 70 percent of these workers reported feelings of distress.
Dr. Xenakis says hospital personnel are trained to handle disasters, such as hurricanes or shootings, but not necessarily enduring crises, such as COVID-19. He believes the stress and trauma of the pandemic will last for years.
“The frontline workers are in something that is chaotic and frenzied. They are like the soldiers having to make life-and-death decisions. The rules aren’t as clear on what they should do and the rules are changing,” Dr. Xenakis says.
“As a leader in a hospital they have to figure out how they are going to support their teams so they can do the best job possible. Stress is going to have an impact on staff but the leaders have to train them to help normalize that. Every day they’re going to the frontlines. Every day they’re encountering that stress.”
Dr. Xenakis and the CRT aim to build a program that is replicable, scalable and useful across the country.
You can support the COVID-19 Resilience Campaign by visiting www.silverhillhospital.org/give.