Study shows mental health intervention and burnout in companies is a priority

Intervening in mental health and preventing “burnout” is a priority for companies, according to a study by the Portuguese Laboratories for Healthy Work Environments, which indicates that healthcare, education and public administration workers are most at risk.

This group with the highest risk index also includes transport, social services, trade and retail workers.

The study also points to the need for companies to develop conflict management strategies and draws attention to companies working on the issue of leadership.

The work, to which Lusa had access, which analyzed about 2,000 workers from sectors such as health care, public administration, transportation, accommodation and food, education and industry, among others, found levels of high risk in terms of mental health, with almost 80% of employees have at least one burnout symptom.

“Usually, the assessment of the environment of companies is carried out in a segmented way. (…) This assessment tool that we use [EATS – Ecossistemas de Ambientes de Trabalho Saudável] allows you to make a comprehensive assessment of all areas at the same time and connect them, because they influence each other and are connected,” explained Tania Gaspard, coordinator of this work, to Luce.

The researchers assessed several organizations at the national level and then carried out specific sector-specific studies, as the behavior of some sectors of activity “is associated with more risk than others.”

The study involved about two thousand participants, most of whom work in a large company / organization (250 or more people).

According to the data Lusa had access to, three aspects pose the greatest risk: mental health and “burnout”, leadership and resources, or, in this case, their absence.

“A lot of times when we talk about ‘burnout’ it seems like overwork, but sometimes it’s not just overwork. There are several risk factors for burnout. For example, there may be extreme physical and psychological, emotional or even cognitive efforts, but also [contribuem] tension and toxic relationships with managers and colleagues,” he explained.

The psychologist also mentions that the “burnout” situation that sets in over time can also contribute to a person feeling that their work is not being recognized or that their skills are being poorly used.

Tanya Gaspar said that these people come to the office many times and the complaints are related to sleep problems: “We were able to effectively understand [em consultório] that a person cannot sleep because either his interpersonal pattern has changed, he has become more hostile, more intolerant of others.

“The fact that about 80% say they have at least one of these symptoms – sadness, irritability, exhaustion and extreme fatigue – worries us,” the specialist emphasized, emphasizing that 63% of people have three symptoms.

This situation affects the professional in several areas of his life, including physical, social and professional health. “The company itself will soon suffer,” he said.

“The individual ends up being less productive, (…) tends to work less and make more mistakes, experience more stress, create more or less positive relationships, including in a work context, which affects teamwork,” he said. . responsible, insisting: “the presence of a person in this situation is not a positive moment for the organization itself, and here it is necessary to carry out preventive work.”

In this study, workers also said that they feel unappreciated, that they feel they are not involved in decision making, that leadership is results-oriented rather than professional well-being, and that they often lack common sense. employer belongings.

“This is something that the organization also needs to think about and think that perhaps it is either doing something wrong or not communicating what it is doing well,” he warned.