Stress and intervention strategies in mental health professionals

Abstract

There is growing evidence to show that mental health professionals by the nature of their work are particularly vulnerable to stress with all its detrimental effects on service delivery and quality of care. This comes at a time when mental health services in many countries are under considerable strain. The present paper examines the multifaceted stressors encountered by the mental health team and recommends possible ways of reducing burnout through innovative intervention strategies. The detection of emotional distress and psychological dysfunctioning in mental health providers is outlined and their management carefully considered.

Sport Psychologists’ Experiences of Organizational Stressors

“…A review of the literature that has examined stressors in the higher-education sector (e.g., Gillespie et al, 2001;Tytherleigh et al, 2005;Wineield & Jarrett, 2001) and the mental health profession (e.g., Edwards et al, 2002;Jenkins & Elliot, 2004;Rabin et al, 1999) led to the development of an interview guide broadly based on the central tasks carried out within these professions. 2 In addition, insights were gleaned from the irst author who had recent experience of researching organizational stress (e.g., Fletcher & Hanton, 2003;Fletcher, Hanton, & Mellalieu, 2006;Fletcher & Scott, 2010;Hanton, Fletcher, & Coughlan, 2005), and working as a BASES accredited psychologist in both academic and practical roles.…”

“…Rabin, Feldman, and Kaplan (1999) provided ive general stressors that contribute to psychotherapists' chronic stress: maintaining the therapeutic relationship, scheduling, professional doubt, work over involvement, and personal depletion. They argued that an accumulation of organizational stressors can result in a number of negative outcomes such as poor service delivery, burnout, and/or stress-related disease (Guthrie et al, 1999;Rabin et al, 1999). …”

The Mother Teresa Effect: The Modulation of Spirituality in using The CISM Model with Mental Health Service Providers

“…Such exposure, as in lengthy therapeutic relationships or acute experiences as first responders can evoke stress for professionals (Regan, Burley, Hammer & Wright, 2006;Stanley, Feldman, Kaplan, 2010).…”

Estressores e estratégias de coping em uma amostra de psicólogos clínicos

“…Outro estudo feito com psicólogos clínicos dos Estados Unidos e da Inglaterra demonstrou altos níveis de stress nessa população (Rabin, Feldman & Kaplan, 1999). Outras pesquisas levantaram possíveis fatores desencadeadores de stress em psicoterapeutas, como, por exemplo, manutenção da relação terapêutica, dúvi-das profissionais, envolvimento excessivo no trabalho e esgotamento pessoal (Faber 1985), expectativas muito altas e falta de gratificação (Rabin et al, 1999).…”