- 'Work and mental health, a fundamental link' is the motto of the World Day, which this year raises awareness about the importance of caring for emotional health in the workplace
- Emotional and physical exhaustion, emotional detachment, dehumanization, and irritability and anger without apparent cause are some of the symptoms of “burnout”
- The Ribera healthcare group is among the 100 best companies to work for in Spain
Mental Health Professionals of the healthcare group Ribera They recommend setting limits, prioritizing and staggering tasks, doing strength training, having hobbies outside of work, and using relaxation techniques to avoid burnout syndrome, that is, getting burned out at work. In the context of World Mental Health Day, which is commemorated tomorrow, October 10, and which this year has as its motto “Work and mental health, a fundamental link”, specialists from the Ribera group encourage “sharing free time and feelings with the people closest to us and allowing ourselves breaks”, as explained by Helena Díaz, head of the Mental Health and Psychiatry service of the Torrejón University Hospital, to avoid excessive wear.
Burnout is the emotional response experienced by a worker when he or she perceives the difference between his or her own ideals and the reality of his or her working life. Dr. Díaz explains that the main factors in the work environment that influence the deterioration of the worker's emotional health are "work overload, job insecurity, lack of clarity in the instructions or guidelines of those in charge, poor or confusing communication with managers and colleagues, and lack of participation in decision-making that affects the workers themselves." "All of this contributes to contaminating the work environment," she explains.
The head of Mental Health and Psychiatry at Torrejón Hospital reminds us that, in addition to these “intangible” factors, there are environmental aspects that are important to monitor in order to avoid emotional discomfort and burnout among workers, such as the importance of providing natural lighting, controlling excessive noise, properly ventilating spaces and facilitating movement and flexibility. “Physical and emotional exhaustion, emotional detachment and dehumanization towards everything that has to do with work, states of irritability and anger without direct or apparent cause are some of the signs that should alert us to this work-related burnout,” explains Dr. Díaz, who explains that feelings such as sadness and guilt also tend to appear in many profiles of “burned-out” workers.
These symptoms, he says, should make us react and apply the recommendations mentioned above, for the sake of our emotional health. And if it is not possible on our own, we should go to a professional for help. “Going through difficult times at work or feeling that work circumstances are wearing us down too much does not make us weaker or worse workers, but rather makes us better managers of our energy and capacity,” he explains.
This year, the Ribera healthcare group has revalidated its position in the ranking of the 100 best companies to work for in Spain, which is prepared each year by Actualidad Económica, based on its own and objective criteria. In addition, it is the only healthcare group among the more than 400 companies that have participated in the analysis on people management, the work environment, conciliation and flexibility of all the entities.
