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. 2024 Nov 22;16(11):e74240.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.74240. eCollection 2024 Nov.

The Impact of the Beirut Explosion on the Mental Health of Lebanese Healthcare Providers: A Scoping Review

Mariana Helou  1 , Danielle Abou Khater  1 , Fadi El Ters  1 , Kaissar Yammine  2
Affiliations

The Impact of the Beirut Explosion on the Mental Health of Lebanese Healthcare Providers: A Scoping Review

Mariana Helou et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Lebanon has faced a series of crises, starting with the economic collapse in 2019, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Beirut blast on August 4, 2020. These events have left the population vulnerable to psychological distress. Our study aims to assess the psychological impact of the Beirut explosion on Lebanese healthcare providers. We conducted an electronic database search, resulting in the inclusion of 21 relevant manuscripts. Various psychological issues were reported among healthcare workers (HCWs), with burnout prevalence rates of 37.2% for disengagement and 51.5% for exhaustion. Additionally, feelings of heaviness, fear, exhaustion, and anxiety were common. Approximately 60% of HCWs experienced moderate to severe stress, and half reported moderate to severe anxiety and depression. Furthermore, 44% were at high risk of developing post-traumatic stress symptoms. Lebanese HCWs have faced significant psychological trauma in recent years, underscoring the need for mental health awareness campaigns and targeted training for HCWs.

Keywords: beirut explosion; healthcare workers; mental health; psychological distress; public mental health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

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