STANFORD, Calif. (KRON) Its a problem facing health care workers across the country, including here in the Bay Area.<\/p>\n
Friends of a Stanford nurse who committed suicide last week say his death is bringing attention the to importance of mental health for healthcare workers.<\/p>\n
A recent study says that over the past two years of caring for COVID patients, nurses and other first responders reported high levels of stress, depression, and fatigue.<\/p>\n
Friends and co-workers of 27-year-old Michael Odell are heartbroken.<\/p>\n
The travel ICU nurse from Oklahoma had been working at Stanford Hospital before committing suicide last week.<\/p>\n
Josh Paredes was best friends with Odell. As a fellow nurse, he says the stresses of the job have become overwhelming for so many in the health care field.<\/p>\n
Paredes believes its important for people to hear Odells story.<\/p>\n
A recent study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine included a survey of more than 500 doctors, nurses, and other health care workers who have been treating COVID patients.<\/p>\n
Within it, they found 74% saying they were depressed, 37% reported they were experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and 15% said they have had thoughts of suicide or self-harm.<\/p>\n
Stanford nurse Gabby Ladue helped in the frantic two-day search for Odell who abruptly left work and went missing last Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The search ended tragically on Thursday when Odells body was found at the Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge.<\/p>\n
Ladue says right now frontline workers across the country need more support.<\/p>\n
Odells colleagues are hoping employers will step up in their efforts to address the well-being of their workers.<\/p>\n
For Paredes, Odells death is pointing out the need for these conversations.<\/p>\n
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Death of Stanford nurse brings attention to healthcare workers mental health - KRON4<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" STANFORD, Calif. Continue reading