The second wave of coronavirus infections had pushed many frontline workers in India to a breaking point. Media reports have shown that an overwhelming number of healthcare workers sought psychological help to cope with the relentless demands of Covid-19, especially during the second surge.

Even as the surge subsides on the back of vaccines, the trauma could have lingering effects on this workforce. Readjusting to normalcy will therefore entail addressing not just the physical and economic aftershocks of the pandemic, but also the psychological.

Covid-19 has psychologically impacted all essential workers, not only healthcare workers. India was third in journalist deaths due to Covid-19, globally. Yet, they have not even been officially recognised as essential workers in India.

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