Health workers are continually working under pressure and may be exposed to a number of situations that can cause them emotional stress. There is a need for counseling in the healthcare industry to make sure that staff members who deal with patients on an everyday basis don’t develop complications because of an absence of counselling.
High workload
High levels of stress are part and parcel of the healthcare professional’s role. Workload pressures, both real and perceived, are a major concern for many healthcare professionals. This can be because of increased work expectations, a rise in the number of patients per provider, or limited resources – but whatever the cause, it can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed by demands, which in turn leads to increased stress levels.
A survey of 123 new doctors revealed that they were expected to work an average of 73 hours per week which was far above the legal limit of 48 hours per week. The added stress causes poor sleep patterns, mood swings, and depression as manifested in a study where 50% were related to self-reported symptoms of fatigue syndrome. These alarming statistics drive the need for counseling therapy for health workers because of the bad consequences it will bring. Counseling can be very useful in formulating a plan to help them improve their work-life balance and work through this condition so that they remain mentally healthy despite being exposed to more stress than most other professions. Through counseling, you can learn to understand yourself better in terms of how you communicate with others – this can help find ways to reduce your stress levels at work. This in turn can reduce the risk of developing the physical symptoms related to chronic stress.
Lack of control over one’s workflow
Feelings of being in charge of one’s work environment is a vital component of good mental health. When a worker understands why they’re doing something, and feels that others value their contribution, it can reduce feelings of stress and even depression. Opportunities to learn new skills on the job should be provided anytime possible – this not only gives staff a reason to feel good about themselves but also helps them understand their role more deeply, giving them a better understanding of the impact they’ve on patient/service outcome.
Understanding what your values or even moral beliefs are is also important – if you do not feel comfy doing certain procedures for patients etc it can lead to feelings of guilt which can contribute to further stress levels. By talking with a counselor, you can explore what your beliefs are and how they affect work.
Coworker problem
Working in a difficult environment can be very stressful – if staff members do not get together with each other, it’s likely that stress levels will increase. It is important for management to understand that when people have problems at work, these issues need to be resolved through the support of an neutral third party – counseling is commonly an amazing way to attain this. In addition, if staff know the rules but do not feel confident about following them, stress levels also increase because of feeling powerless in the face of work-mates who may be impolite or even intimidate to them; talking about such situations with someone who has experience working with conflict resolution can be very helpful.
Stress at work is a problem that’s receiving more pressure today – now to the point where mental health support is being provided in many organizations in addition to training for managers on how best to deal with staff issues. Health workers are often asked to take care of others, sometimes at the expense of their own health and well-being; by attending counseling sessions, you can control these symptoms before they get out of control.
In conclusion, it is vital for healthcare workers to receive counseling as a complement to their job as they’re exposed to large amounts of stress and are in danger of developing conditions such as burnout syndrome if not supplied with the required support from family, friends and colleagues. Counseling can even be used as a way for them to seek help so they can better deal with everyday life while maintaining a balance between family, career and other responsibilities.
