PHARMACISTS are being urged to ensure they look after their personal mental and physical health as they support their communities through the COVID-19 crisis.
Speaking on a webinar hosted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) last week, Royal Australia College of General Practitioners (RACGP) chair, Dr Charlotte Hespe, stressed the need for frontline health workers to focus on their health and wellbeing at this strenuous time.
"This is such a key thing," she said.
"We've been having conversations for some time about making sure that wellness is at the forefront of all healthcare workers' [minds], because we don't have a terribly good record of looking after ourselves."
While acknowledging that social distancing restrictions and the temporary closure of facilities mean people are not living life as usual, Hespe said the need to exercise and eat well was no different to any other time.
"You've got to make sure you eat well, that you sleep well, that you exercise and that you stay socially connected," she said.
"I've had all my weekends freed up - all of the conferences and meetings that I had to go to have all been taken out of my diary, and all of a sudden I have an opportunity to take some space.
"I know I can't go too far from my home, but I can schedule things in.
"We still need to go for a walk or a run, make sure that you schedule in some socially connected time, make sure that you and your partner - if you live together - actually have the ability to connect with each other, but also to have time away."
The PSA is hosting another COVID-19-focused webinar on Wed.
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