Corona virus 2019 (COVID19). a highly contagious respiratory viral infection has spread throughout the world. This pandemic has been a catastrophe to the healthcare sector, both private and public, challenging the already overburdened healthcare systems and its workers. One of the most troubled and affected in this unprecedented situation are the frontline healthcare workers who continuously battle the virus head on. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to determine the Mental health status and coping strategies among first line EMT responders to COVID19 positive patients stationed at AdZU-Lantaka COVID19 isolation facility from March 2020 until February 2021. The results were gathered through an online survey. Instruments used were DASS 21 designed to evaluate the Mental Health Status of the EMTs measuring distress along the axes of depression, anxiety and stress reactions and management. The Brief COPE Inventory was used to classify their coping strategies. In-depth interviews of 4 EMTs with different DASS21 categorical results were made post survey to explore the feelings, experiences, and actual coping activities of the EMTs. The prevalence of Depression among the 29 respondents are 5 (17.2%), subcategorized into Mild and Moderate which both have 2 (6.9%) respondents each, followed by 1 (3.4%) respondent falling into the Severe rating. The prevalence of Anxiety was 7 (24.1%) which is further subcategorized by 4 (13.8%) respondents experiencing Moderate anxiety, followed by 2 (6.9%) respondents experiencing Mild Anxiety while 1 (3.4%) respondent fit the Extremely Severe Anxiety Rating. For the Stress Category assessed by DASS21, 29 (100%) of the respondents have normal stress ratings. As for Coping strategies 22 (75.9%) of the respondents use the Approach style coping strategies and 7 (24.1%) of the respondents utilize an Avoidant coping strategy. There are several factors that contributed to the Mental Health and Coping mechanisms of EMTs but when asked on what type of support they needed, the four (4) selected EMT respondents for the in-depth interview answered the need for additional emotional support and appreciation. This study strengthens the claim that front liners are the negatively affected psychologically while responding to COVID19 patients and that despite being the minoriry among the population being studied, Depression and Anxiety prevail in these population. It is recommended that facilities with healthcare workers who deal with COVID19 positive patients to periodically monitor or screen the Mental Health Status of their front liners.

Keyword: Mental health coping strategies Emergency Medical Technician Responders to COVID-19 positive patients