Doctors are not made of steel

A doctor feeling burnout stress of coronavirus frontline protection prays at work. [Getty Images]

Just like their patients, doctors are also not immune to mental stress, worry and attendant burnout, depression and post-traumatic stress disorders.

Dr Yubrine Moraa, an internal medicine consultant and health advocate says the pandemic was one period that tested medics. In her case, she had to seek help for trauma after "trying to be a soldier" ran its human limits and she lists "long working hours and watching colleagues succumbing" as some sources of anxiety and panic especially when she experienced symptoms similar to Covid-19.