“Caring for those who care”
The increase in mental health problems among healthcare professionals is due to precariousness, worsening working conditions, work overload and excessive working hours. Causes and factors that affect healthcare professionals in their daily lives.
- These factors have a significant impact on the mental health of healthcare workers, contributing to emotional exhaustion, anxiety and depression.
- Programs such as “Caring for those who care” seek to offer self-care guidelines to doctors, nurses, and assistants, among others.
Given this situation, and on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, the company specializing in digital training for healthcare professionals and technological innovation Edtech Lighthouse, has analyzed the main causes and factors that affect healthcare workers on a daily basis.
According to the company, high hospital pressure, long working hours and constant stress are the most pressing risk factors affecting the mental well-being of doctors, nurses, assistants and other professionals in the sector.
In addition to the inherent characteristics of their jobs in surgeries, hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centres, job insecurity and an overload of responsibilities have led to a significant increase in mental health problems among workers in the sector, including high levels of stress, emotional exhaustion and anxiety.
These data are supported by national and community institutions and bodies. Almost 30% of health professionals in Europe suffer from mental health problems, with the average prevalence being 26.8%, according to the European Agency for Health and Safety at Work. There are some specialties with a higher incidence of processes and conditions of depression, anxiety and burnout. It is noteworthy that six out of ten oncologists show signs of burnout or professional exhaustion due to the saturation of consultations, and almost 40% are considering leaving the profession, according to the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology. Likewise, 59% of workers in this sector reported a considerable increase in work stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These figures illustrate the urgency of addressing mental health in sectors where stress and high demand for care are a constant. The high pressure of hospital demand, long working hours and continuous exposure to stressful situations have a significant impact on the mental health of healthcare workers, contributing to emotional exhaustion, anxiety and depression. It is crucial that we work on prevention and psychological support through programs that promote emotional stability,” said Nazaret Moya, psychologist at Faro Edtech.
Training programs to care for those who care
In this same vein, and as part of the company's commitment to comprehensive training for healthcare professionals and full advice throughout their professional careers, it has included specific modules on self-care and emotional well-being in many of its digital training courses. Under the "Caring for those who care" program, the company seeks to raise awareness among professionals about the importance of managing their mental health in order to provide the best care to their patients.
Source: https://prevencionar.com/2024/10/10/the-factors-that-most-affect-the-mental-health-of-health-workers-constant-stress-high-hospital-pressure-and-long-work-days/