MENTAL HEALTH AT THE WORKING PLACE PSYCHIATRY/REHABILITATION DEPTS. PRESENTORS: HAULI KIYETI(Psychiatrist) JOYCE KARAWA (Occupational Therapist)

CONTENTS Introduction Definitions of some terms Common causes of Mental Ill-Health at work place (work related stress). Signs of work related stress Management

INTRODUCTION Work-related stress is a growing problem around the world that affects not only the health and well-being of employees, but also the productivity of organizations. Work-related stress arises where work demands of various types and combinations exceed the person’s capacity and capability to cope.

DEFINITION: Mental Health (WHO): is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.

DEFINITION CT… Stress has been defined in different ways over the years. Originally, it was conceived of as pressure from the environment, then as strain within the person. The generally accepted definition today is one of interaction between the situation and the individual.

DEFINITION CT… Stress: is the negative emotional and physiological process that occurs as individuals try to adjust to or deal with environmental circumstances that disrupt, or threaten to disrupt, their daily functioning.

Mental Health Issues at work place: Work-related stress can be caused by various events. For example, a person might feel under pressure if the demands of their job (such as hours or responsibilities) are greater than they can comfortably manage. Other sources of work-related stress include conflict with co-workers or bosses, constant change, and threats to job security, such as potential redundancy.

Some of the factors that commonly cause work-related stress include: Long working hours Heavy workload Changes within the organization Tight deadlines Changes to duties Job insecurity Lack of autonomy- (freedom of choice/thought) Boring work Insufficient skills for the job

Some causes of work related stress ct.. Over-supervision Inadequate working environment Lack of proper resources Lack of equipment Few promotional opportunities Harassment Discrimination Poor relationships with colleagues or bosses Crisis incidents, such as an armed hold-up or workplace death.

The signs or symptoms of work-related stress can be physical, psychological and behavioural. Physical symptoms include: Fatigue Muscular tension Headaches Heart palpitations Sleeping difficulties, such as insomnia Gastrointestinal upsets, such as diarrhoea or constipation

Psychological symptoms include: Depression Anxiety Discouragement Irritability Pessimism- the feeling that things will turn out badly. Feelings of being overwhelmed and unable to cope Cognitive difficulties, such as a reduced ability to concentrate or make decisions.

Behavioural symptoms include: An increase in sick days or absenteeism Aggression Diminished creativity and initiative A drop in work performance Problems with interpersonal relationships Mood swings and irritability Lower tolerance of frustration and impatience Disinterest Isolation.

WHAT WE NEED AFTER HAVING WORK RELATED STRESS?????????? ??????????? WHAT WE NEED AFTER HAVING WORK RELATED STRESS??????????

WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF OCCUPATIONAL BALANCE?

Occupational Balance Individual’s perception of having the right AMOUNT of occupations and the right VARIATION between Occupations.

Occupation Any meaningful activity a person may do throughout the course of a day including taking care of one self(self-care), contributing to society through paid and unpaid work(Productivity) and simply Enjoying life (Leisure).

. Leisure Self-Care Productivity

- EQUILIBRIUM - Occupational Balance. Wilcock (2006) defines it as: “…engagement in occupation that leads to well-being. For example, the balance may be among physical, mental and social occupations; between chosen and obligatory occupations; between strenuous and restful occupations, or between doing and being” - EQUILIBRIUM -

Balance Is about the relationship between a person, their Occupation and their worlds. Occupational balance can always feel like and impossible goal , especially for people who straggles to give everything 100%. Working with the person in the present… Occupational lives change over time.

WAY FORWARD Lets learn to priorities our activities. Protect your private/free time

Consider Hämmig and Bauer (2009) Increased risk of mental illness if imbalanced. Balanced = Positive outlook, increased motivation and overall better health and well-being.

. Sometimes we feel guilt of not doing something productive…

. Relax set time to do things you enjoy. Get time to Play your other Roles.

Occupational Balance – Key Studies Matuska and Christiansen (2008) Aimed to understand how people use their time through asking participants about their roles. They concluded that lifestyle balance could be the answer to reducing stressors in daily life. Håkansson, Björkelund and Eklund (2011) Occupational Balance + Meaning = Increased life satisfaction.

Hints for the Organization/Institution: It is important for employers to recognize work-related stress as a significant health and safety issue. A company/ Organization/ Institution can and should take steps to ensure that employees are not subjected to unnecessary stress, including: Ensure a safe working environment. Make sure that everyone is properly trained for their job.

Hints ct…. De-stigmatise work-related stress by openly recognizing it as a genuine problem. Discuss issues and grievances with employees, and take appropriate action when possible. Cut down on the need for overtime by reorganizing duties or employing extra staff. Take into account the personal lives of employees and recognize that the demands of home will sometimes clash with the demands of work. Seek advice from health professionals, if necessary.

Remember the OLD saying: “Find a job you love and you will never work another day in your life”

THANK YOU WORK HARD REST RELAX SOCIALIZE EXERSICE