2024-10-10 06:12:00
World Mental Health Day is celebrated on October 10, a date that invites us to reflect on the importance of taking care of our emotional well-being, which, without a doubt, we should do based on recent studies on the subject. According to a 2023 Mutua Madrileña Foundation report, four in ten Spaniards (39.3%) rate their current mental health negativelyOne in four currently consults a mental health specialist, a quite considerable figure compared to the 5.4% of Spaniards who consulted five years ago (ESNE 2017). Another conclusion is that 74.7% of the Spanish population believes that in recent years the mental health of Spaniards has worsened and that the demand for psychologists has grown by 37.2%, as has the consumption of anxiolytics.
This report agrees with the data of International study by the AXA Group recently published, in which in 2023 34% of Spaniards admitted to having mental health problems and 16% also admitted to taking anxiolytics, sleeping pills or antidepressants at least once a week.
Outside our country the data are no better, according to a study conducted by McGrath, of the Queensland Brain Institute, and Kessler, of the Harvard Medical School, published in 2023 in which the data from WHO Global Mental Health Survey in which 150,000 people of 29 different nationalities were interviewed from 2001 to 2022, one in two adults will suffer from a mental disorder before the age of 75.
Furthermore, mental health problems affect the most vulnerable. In a report from the Spanish Ministry of Health, published in 2021 with data from 2017, The phenomenon known as the social gradient in health was evident. This implies that diseases are more frequent among people with lower incomes. In the case of mental disorders, according to primary care data, psychosis was 12 times more common in people with lower incomes than in those with higher incomes. Personality disorders occurred 11 times more, somatic disorders 7 times more, anxiety disorders 3.5 times more, and depression 2.5 times more.
According to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), in 2022 Spain was at the forefront of the consumption of benzodiazepines, drugs with anxiolytic, hypnotic and muscle relaxation effects. Furthermore, the use of antidepressantsaccording to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) it has grown 250% since 2000. Without a doubt, the level of consumption of psychotropic drugs is probably due to the absence of psychology professionals in public health (the Economic and Social Council warns of the insufficient number of psychologists in Spain, with a ratio of six per 100,000 inhabitants, three times lower than the European average) which makes drugs practically the only solution available to patients.
Furthermore, there is an aspect that is often overlooked, at least for society as a whole: the mental health of the same professionals who are dedicated to caring for others, such as doctors, psychologists or psychiatrists. In Spain, The pressure on the healthcare professions is overwhelmingand it is crucial to understand how to support those who are responsible for our well-being.
In a 2018 study by O’Connor, Neff and Pittman, before the pandemic, with data from 9,409 mental health professionals, it emerged that already Around 40% suffered from emotional exhaustion, 22% from depersonalisation and 19% from low levels of personal achievement.. Along the same lines, in a survey of psychologists working in the UK’s National Health System, 48% of 1,227 respondents “had suffered symptoms of depression and stress and a drastic loss of wellbeing”. These figures are alarming and reflect the urgent need to create an enabling environment for these professionals.
The pressure of managing the suffering of others, overworkedalong with the resulting emotional burden, can lead mental health professionals to a state of burnout known as exhaustion. This syndrome not only affects your health, but can also affect the quality of care provided to patients. If those who help us are not well, the system as a whole suffers.
What can we do? First of all, raise awareness of mental health in the workplace: It is essential that both institutions and society at large recognize the importance of the well-being of mental health professionals. Visibility and social support are essential to destigmatize your struggles.
Second, promote continuous self-care training. For example, offering workshops and resources on self-care and stress management techniques can allow psychologists to develop tools to help them manage their mental health, such as awareness; or promote spaces of supervision and emotional support where they can share their experiences and receive support from colleagues, without forgetting regular clinical supervision that can help mitigate the emotional burden they bear.
And three, and perhaps most importantly, adequate labor policies. Administrations, companies and institutions must create policies that promote a healthy working environment. This includes reasonable workloads and recognition of psychologists’ efforts. According to the WHO “creating psychologically healthy environments is a moral imperative”
On World Mental Health Day we must remember this Caring for mental health professionals means caring for everyone.. They are the first line of defense in the fight against mental health problems and it is our responsibility to ensure they are well equipped to deal with the job. By supporting those who care for us, we are building a stronger, more resilient system for all. It’s time to take action and ensure that those who help us heal also receive the care they deserve.
*Jesus Matos, psychologist and ISEP-metrodora teacher.
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