by Carol Murota

Among the many weaknesses COVID-19 has revealed in our systems, we are most acutely aware of the fragility of our healthcare system and our social safety net. Our League members continue to step forward to address these needs. Last month you read about Catherine Newman's PPE work. Our League Vice President, Sue Brandy, is putting her therapist training back to work on a less widely publicized problem.

Recognizing that our frontline workers are forced daily to make troubling medical and ethical choices, the Frontline Workers Counseling Project was formed to offer free counseling support. Sue Brandy is working with the project to help workers - such as Emergency Department physicians, county jail employees and homeless services providers - to cope with the decisions they must make: Who gets a ventilator?  How does a homeless person shelter in place?  What about the fears and worries about exposure for maintenance workers cleaning the hospitals?  Providers are struggling with the stress of increasing needs and limited resources, inadequate testing, no vaccine, and no reliable treatment.  How do providers cope with their own feelings of inadequacy, fear, helplessness?  How are police and fire employees managing their risks? Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

Sue Brandy’s work is important and unsung, but she assures everyone it is extremely rewarding. If you know a frontline worker who would benefit from talking with a professional, please refer them to the Frontline Workers Counseling Project for assistance. If you have questions, you can email Sue at brandylcsw [at] gmail.com.