HEALTH MINUTE: Health care worker COVID risk

Health care providers are called the second victims to the coronavirus as risk factors are amplified.

Own mental health could be suffering.

Mandy gaither has more details in today's health minute.

:00-:12 :12-:21 :21-:38 :42-:55 :59-1:05 1:12-1:25 1:25-1:35 being a health care provider is always high risk and full of stress, but experts are saying because of the coronavirus, those risk factors and stressors are amplified.

Our health care workers are becoming the so-called "second victims" of this crisis.

That term refers to those experiencing trauma related to a patient's care... dr. sanjay gupta/ cnn chief medical correspondent: "you're talking about a vulnerable population of people.

I mean, death by suicide among the medical community and within emts and emergency workers, it's the highest among medical workers.

You know, there's a lot of stress" hospitals around the country have been running at or over capacity.

Work hours have increased, supplies and protective gear have been in short supply or at times non-existent, and yet healthcare workers are expected to give each and every patient 110-percent.

And because of how contagious the disease is, patients often aren't allowed to have contact with their loved ones, putting their doctors and nurses in the position of comforter as well.

Many in the health care industry have also decided to distance themselves from family members to keep them safe.

Dr. sanjay gupta/ cnn chief medical correspondent: "significant psychological toll of that as well.

Not just for themselves in terms of am i safe, did i contract the virus, was i just exposed.

Then going home.

Potentially exposing