Psychologists and psychiatrists' experiences of threats to wellbeing whilst providing forensic tele-service work during the COVID-19 pandemic

This paper presents the results of a survey of 169 psychologists and psychiatrists about their experiences of conducting forensic assessment and treatment work from home during workplace restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular attention to self-care and threats to wellbeing. Although most participants (80.2%) reported that they liked working from home, and a range of benefits were identified, many (42.5%) participants reported that working from home had been difficult. A range of problems, including a worsening in the frequency and quality of contact with colleagues, difficulties in establishing a work-life balance, experiences of unpleasant interactions with clients, and an increase in fear of managing clients in crisis were reported. These results suggest that care is required to ensure that threats to the well-being of psychologists and psychiatrists are identified and remedial actions introduced, particularly with regard to the provision of supervision and peer support to prevent distress.