According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, ‘surge capacity’ is a medical term that refers to a facility's preparedness to manage a sudden increase in the number of patients. With mental health being at the forefront of people’s minds during these times of uncertainty and isolation, surge capacity can be related to each of us as individuals. Our surge capacity is our ability to respond to stressful situations in a productive manner. But the new problem is we do not know how long these stressful times with last. What happens when our surge capacities are depleted?
Science journalist Tara Haelle, along with psychologist and professor of child development at the University of Minnesota, Ann Masten, PhD explain more about recognizing a depleted surge capacity and how the pandemic has challenged us in new ways. The entire article can be found here.