Assistance for Health Professionals and Public Health Workers
WFY Bureau USA: It can be difficult and stressful to provide care and services to the general public. Stress at work can negatively impact not just your own health but also the health of the people you care about outside of work, as well as the care and services you provide to others while performing your duties.
It is imperative that managers and supervisors understand what constitutes stress and modify organisational policies and procedures to mitigate stress connected to the workplace.
Learning how to manage stress and knowing where to get help is beneficial for both managers and employees.
Acknowledge the signs of stress in both other people and yourself.
- Experiencing irritation, rage, or denial;
- Uncertainty, nervousness, or anxiety;
- Helplessness or powerlessness;
- Lack of motivation;
- Tired, overwhelmed, or burned out;
- Sad or depressed;
- Having difficulties sleeping;
- Difficulty concentrating.
Be aware of burnout:
Those who are experiencing burnout frequently feel worn out and pessimistic. An individual’s physical, emotional, and psychological health may be strained by working in a stressful atmosphere. Anxiety and depression are two mental health disorders that are more common among workers who are burned out. Employee retention may also be impacted by burnout. Burnout can cause employees to become less engaged at work and make the decision to quit their position entirely.
Advice for supervisors and managers:
Stress at work can be prevented and reduced in large part by managers and supervisors. When employees are asked to perform too much and have insufficient resources to do so, burnout may result. Although self-care and resilience training are helpful at the individual level, altering workplace policies and practices is the most effective strategy to deal with burnout.
Many government and ngo bodies offers online course to prevent ‘Burnout Among Public Health Workers’ especially for managers and supervisors in the field of public health. Participants would gain knowledge on how to avoid burnout and give employees’ health and well-being top priority.
A Total Worker Health strategy can be used by managers and supervisors to put policies, procedures, and initiatives into action. A program to lessen stress at work could consist of:
- Put in place management and organisational rules that address the core causes of stress, such as excessive demands or bullying at work. Additionally, put in place regulations that offer employees more freedom and control over their work and schedules.
- Train managers on techniques for lowering stressful work environments.
- Offer all employees resilience-building training and treatments for stress management and reduction. Make employee assistance programs accessible.
Here are some coping strategies to help you become more resilient:
- Talk about work-related stress with coworkers, managers, and employees.
- Be honest about how your wellbeing is being impacted by work-related stress.
- Determine the sources of stress and collaborate to find remedies.
- Find out how to get in touch with mental health resources at work.
- Recognise and accept the things in your life over which you have no control.
- Throughout your shift, take breaks to stretch, rest, or check in with friends, family, coworkers, and supporting peers.
- Try to get some exercise while you’re not at work. Spend time outside relaxing or engaging in physical activities.
- Find healthy coping mechanisms for stress;
- Engage in activities you enjoy when not at work.