Does anyone find sobbing nurses etc in The News every night, in any way helpful?

[Miljea]

.... or does this footage rapidly lose its impact?

I sort of feel 'Yes, we know, and if the first months of footage failed to shock and awe, this won't!'. If anything, all it does is to numb people.

Ditto the non-contextualised rolling statistics.

Do you think it's an actual strategy, to bombard us with this? If it is, I fear it's not working.

FTR I'm coalface, Covid facing, full PPE NHS, tho not ICU.

But I have got up and personal with Covid that is killing people. Including in ICU.

But I don't think the News' blanket slightly blurry footage of HCPs all kitted up going about their business, interspersed with interviews with sobbing nurses- really helps. I have even heard the 'for God's sake, it's their job' remarks (at the hairdressers, when they were briefly open, TV on).

That person was argued with by her mate, but I do wonder whether too much of this sort of coverage makes people weary of it.

why would adults dying of covid cause me more upset than adults dying of any other illness?
Because many of those adults would be alive today if Covid19 wasn't here.
People die everyday but when an infectious disease is killing them it is hard.
As I said the 3 in my family 2 from the estate who died were late 60's newly retired not in their 80's.
Would they be here today if they didn't catch Covid19 yes most likely.

Needs to be seen. Nurses are used to dealing with death and often do so with grace and sympathy towards all concerned (I worked on a cancer ward some years ago and have nothing but respect) but not on this scale, day in day out for months on end.

For those comparing to armed forces - we all know about PTSD after people have experienced prolonged experience of deaths in a warzone. A lot of soldiers come out of the army scarred. A lot have problems in the long term.

I think its healthy to cry in a position such as being a nurse in midst of this, if they are not crying its time to be concerned for their MH.

I truly feel for them.

@Emeraldshamrock

why would adults dying of covid cause me more upset than adults dying of any other illness? Because many of those adults would be alive today if Covid19 wasn't here. People die everyday but when an infectious disease is killing them it is hard. As I said the 3 in my family 2 from the estate who died were late 60's newly retired not in their 80's. Would they be here today if they didn't catch Covid19 yes most likely.

I'm sorry for your losses

Yes, those who died of covid would be alive of they hadn't caught covid. Just like those who die in road traffic accidents would be alive of they hadn't been in the car. Just like those who die of pneumonia wouldn't have died if it hadn't contracted pneumonia. I could say the same for any illness. There's nothing inherently more tragic about dying of covid. Death is pretty grim regardless.

@Ritasueandbobtoo9 spot on. This government has underfunded the NHS and social care for too long. Mental Health services and CAMHS are losing the struggle to see patients in timely way.

I listen to the news on the radio or catch up on BBC webpage once a day. I find anymore exposure has a detrimental effect. I'm CV so have to remain aware but also protect myself from being swamped by bad news. It's not healthy for my mind.

EloraaDanan This thread title is catching the minority of people, lets say with limited empathy. Millions of people like myself are grateful beyond words for all that you and your colleagues do.

@Miljea

Risking "compassion fatigue"?! Seriously??

Surely the point of the news items is to make everyone aware that the situation is still awful...that we aren't even past the peak.....that we are already at breaking point and there is more to come.

That might make you dispense with your compassion but what about those of us who don't have a choice?

We can't turn around to you or your relatives when you are critically ill and say "soz, I'm all out of compassion for today because I've seen too much of the same thing".

So I maintain what I said. Everyone needs to shoulder this burden, as tiresome, tedious and monotonous as it is. Even if people already believe or deny. It has to continue to be shown because to ignore it is possibly the biggest kick in the teeth to those working in it and, more importantly, to those who have died needlessly.

I haven't seen criticism of HCP on this thread, have I missed some? that is not what this thread is about. It is a thread about the reporting on the pandemic on the Television news (BBC particularly) there is no need for people who work in the NHS to feel upset or defensive about what is being said on this thread.

No one is saying that they don't care about what is happening in hospitals right now afaics!

@formerbabe

I always have, and still am complying 100% but questioning the narrative is not being a covid-denier

I agree. It's really worrying that anyone who asks questions or attempts to look at the wider picture is branded a conspiracy theorist. It's like a modern day witch hunt. You must accept every single thing the government and media says and wail at the news reports to prove you're not a conspiracy theorist/denier.

North Korea couldn't have done it better.

I have a problem understanding this because propaganda or not, what you see in these segments isn’t a lie. I personally have never seen something portrayed so honestly through this pandemic as these recent reports.

This is the definition of propaganda:

1. information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.

Which isn’t true of this situation. What you’re seeing is real, not staged or manipulated in any way. So it doesn’t fit does it.

You may not be a COVID denier but you’re definitely wrongly denying something.

Yea there is @Chicchicchicchiclana have another read. The best one is how what’s being represented is propaganda and NHS works for along with it because we’re compliant (paraphrase of a few)

People need to see what is really happening but as someone with Covid, I just find the news articles terrifying tbh

Because balanced news reporting could include more about the economy tanking, people's mental health falling apart, children struggling without school, people losing their livelihood.

Apparently roughly 450 people die every day from cancer. I think that's awful but I don't sit at home weeping over it. Why would I because of this?

What you’re seeing is real, not staged or manipulated in any way

Yes I know it's real...I'm just saying I'm not going to fall apart and wail over it. People have always died in ICU...yes there may be more now but I've always been aware that people dying is an unpleasant experience.

I can see why it’s necessary. It’s a public health campaign ramped up to the fear factor.

I can see why everything else is forgotten currently. The government are aware of the huge harms but right now it’s behaviour change mode.

I would prefer if people didn’t then dismiss those harms as a result. But I suppose the above is effective in that sense.

That still doesn’t strengthen the point you’re making @formerbabe. It’s still not propaganda.

I watch a lot of news from a variety of sources. I’ve seen a lot of coverage on MH during the, poverty, LOADS on the economy tanking (because let’s face it, it’s one of the only things this government give a shit about), amongst plenty of other things. It just so happens it’s now the NHS’ turn and because the NHS is meant to be an organisation that’s run by robots and providing the most important service there is, people don’t like it. Home truths and all that I guess. It’s hard to watch. Sure, if you have a very limited access to the media and just read the headlines, you’re going to get a very limited view but it’s all out there for anyone to see.

No ones asking you to weep over it. Just acknowledge it’s happening.

LOADS on the economy tanking (because let’s face it, it’s one of the only things this government give a shit about),

The economy isn’t separate to our lives. Do you not worry about job loss? Ok maybe not strangers but dc ability to get jobs in future.

Or taxes needed to fund healthcare system?

I never used the word propaganda. But you must be very naive about how the media works. Anyway, like I said, I'm aware it's happening, I'm following the rules. Im just not shocked or personally upset by the images coming out of hospitals. The fact is the government need us to be scared and think we could all succumb at any point to covid in order to get us to comply. I haven't heard them state on TV news the fact that 98% of deaths are in the over 50s. I have seen them focus heavily on the few youngish people who have died. Why do you think that is?

I think you are way off the mark @confuseddotcom090 - what an awful response about nurses and soldiers. You should be deeply ashamed of yourself.

No ones asking you to weep over it. Just acknowledge it’s happening I agree.
I'm sure the aim is to make people realise they need to stop socialising too as the "Im alright Jack I'm not vunerable" attitude is allowing the virus to keep going host to host.

I’ve read plenty of articles on job loss @MarshaBradyo. Funnily enough I’ve been affected by that too. It was only a few weeks ago the headlines published the figures for unemployment in England and a breakdown of how many have received help through grants and loans and how many are now claiming UC. I’ve seen plenty of interviews with affected people too, even on the BBC. It was shocking. It was still there though.

Why do you think that is?

Because people like you keep harping on about it’s not young people that affected and they are?

Don’t be obtuse.

I think the fact you are expecting the news to be full of ‘helpful’ stories to make you feel better might be where you’re going wrong. It’s the news. The fact that you’re essentially tired of hearing about their trauma speaks volumes about you and very little about them or anyone else.

@EloraaDanan

Why do you think that is?

Because people like you keep harping on about it’s not young people that affected and they are?

Don’t be obtuse.

I'm not saying they're not affected. I'm saying that the risk to them is tiny. Do you find statistical analysis very difficult?

@EloraaDanan

I’ve read plenty of articles on job loss *@MarshaBradyo*. Funnily enough I’ve been affected by that too. It was only a few weeks ago the headlines published the figures for unemployment in England and a breakdown of how many have received help through grants and loans and how many are now claiming UC. I’ve seen plenty of interviews with affected people too, even on the BBC. It was shocking. It was still there though.

Why talk about a government that only gives a shit about economy if you understand it is actually important?

Would you prefer a government that doesn’t give a shit about it? Would lack of furlough, greater job loss, be better?

On balance the media has concentrated on deaths / cases / hospitals far more than above. As it’s a tool which works in suppressing virus.

I haven’t said this is wrong but it’s crazy to think the balance is not towards this over other stuff like economic harm.

@winniestone37

I think the fact you are expecting the news to be full of ‘helpful’ stories to make you feel better might be where you’re going wrong. It’s the news. The fact that you’re essentially tired of hearing about their trauma speaks volumes about you and very little about them or anyone else.

Were you not aware of death or trauma pre covid?

@NeedWineNow

Actually I find it appalling that people are dying and loved ones aren't allowed in to say goodbye, yet every news report has a camera crew inside a hospital getting close up and personal interviewing anyone they can telling us all how bad it is.

Yes this is appalling. The dying people and the crying NHS staff are props in their story.