How has the mental health of junior staff been negatively affected by the current COVID-19 climate?

While pandemics are widely recognised and remembered for their devastating physical effects on human and/or animal life, previously a less talked about but recognised effect is that on mental health. This audit aimed to measure the negative effects COVID-19 has had on the mental wellbeing of junior staff working in hospitals, specifically the Dental Core Trainees (DCT) throughout the Thames Valley and Wessex (TVW) Deanery. 40% of the respondents used the intervention, with meditation and mindfulness found most useful. The overall mental health of the DCT improved with increased scores seen in all areas of personal life. Leisure activity/hobbies increased as well as positive behaviours which resulted in anxiety levels decreasing significantly. There was an overall reduction in all stressors except ‘workload/responsibilities’, which increased from 40 to 80%. Dissatisfaction with senior support which was not in line with what the DCT wanted or needed. Responses still showed that ‘family/friends health’ continues to be of higher importance than ‘personal health’. The intervention was partly successful, with increased satisfaction levels and improved mental wellbeing. A lack of perceived internal support from Trusts and poor communication from senior colleagues with no specific guidance on how their role was changing despite the second intervention.