Mental Workers Research Articles

Dampak Kesehatan Mental dan Atmosfer kerja Terhadap Motivasi Kerja Karyawan

Isnawati The Impact of Mental Health and Work Atmosphere on Employee Work Motivation (Case Study on Private Employees in Surabaya City), Institut of Economic Science Pemuda Surabaya, Mentor Nur Farida, S.M., M.M. The purpose of this research is to determine how the working environment and mental health of private employees in the Surabaya City area affect their motivation for their jobs. 150 private workers from a range of industrial sectors made up the research sample. A Likert scale questionnaire survey is employed as the data collection method to gauge factors related to job motivation, workplace culture, and mental wellness. The findings of data analysis using SPSS indicate that private employees' motivation at work is significantly positively impacted by their mental health and the environment in which they operate. The results of the partial t-test indicate that job motivation is significantly impacted to some extent by mental health and the work environment. Simultaneous F tests verify that work motivation is significantly impacted by both mental health and the workplace environment.

Does psychology fail in the face of genocide? Insights about Gaza before and after October 7, 2023

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of psychologists working with a community mental health center in the Gaza Strip, using Freirean pedagogical and Fanonian post-colonial theories as a framework. The study aims to highlight how political injustice contributes significantly to psychological distress in the region. It emphasizes the importance of collective well-being, liberatory practices and agency in therapeutic work. This research seeks to demonstrate that psychology and science cannot remain politically neutral, as they are inherently imbued with values that can either uphold oppressive systems or promote resistance and advocacy for change. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a theoretical and qualitative approach, drawing from Freirean pedagogical and Fanonian post-colonial frameworks. It involves reflective analysis of the authors’ experiences as psychologists from Italy and South Africa working with a community mental health center in Gaza. The research includes a critical examination of political and social contexts that affect mental health in the region. Through the roles of trainers, clinical supervisors and researchers, the authors integrate liberatory psychological practices and emphasize solidarity with the people of Gaza, providing insights into the interplay between political contexts and psychological well-being. Findings The findings indicate that political injustice is a primary cause of psychological distress in Gaza. The research underscores the dual role of mental health professionals: while they might inadvertently promote adjustment to oppressive systems, they also have the potential to enhance resistance, advocacy and activism. The study reveals that liberatory psychological practices can empower individuals and communities, fostering agency and collective well-being. Furthermore, the mental health needs of the population, alongside humanitarian aid and physical safety, are critical for the current crisis and future rebuilding efforts in Gaza. Research limitations/implications This paper is limited by its qualitative nature and the specific context of the Gaza Strip, which may not be generalizable to other settings. However, it provides valuable insights into the role of psychology in politically charged environments. The implications for further research include the need to explore liberatory practices in other conflict-affected areas and to examine the impact of psychologists’ roles as advocates for change. The study highlights the importance of integrating political awareness into psychological practice and research, encouraging professionals to engage actively in addressing systemic injustices. Practical implications The practical implications of this work emphasize the need for mental health professionals to incorporate political awareness and advocacy into their practice. By doing so, they can support communities in resisting oppressive systems and promote collective well-being. The research suggests training programs for psychologists that focus on liberatory practices and agency, equipping them to work effectively in conflict zones. Additionally, the study advocates for strengthening psychological services in Gaza, both during and after crises, to address the population’s mental health needs and support rebuilding efforts. Social implications The social implications of this paper highlight the critical role of psychology in addressing the political and social determinants of mental health. By aligning psychological practice with liberatory principles, mental health professionals can contribute to social justice and empower communities to resist oppression. The study advocates for a shift in the perception of psychology as a politically neutral discipline, urging professionals to engage actively in social change. It underscores the importance of solidarity with marginalized populations and the need for mental health support that is responsive to the broader socio-political context. Originality/value This essay offers original insights into the application of Freirean and Fanonian theories in the context of mental health work in Gaza. It provides a unique perspective on the role of psychologists as agents of change and solidarity in politically oppressive environments. The research contributes to the growing body of literature on the intersection of psychology and social justice, highlighting the potential of liberatory practices to empower communities. By challenging the notion of political neutrality in psychology, this study adds value to the discourse on the ethical responsibilities of mental health professionals.

The mediating effect of work-life balance on the relationship between work-family conflict and psychological well-being among Chinese working women

The study aims to explore whether work-life balance mediates the impact of work-family conflict and its dimensions on psychological well-being. Using a survey method, data were collected from a sample of 258 working women in Hebei province in China. The analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS and the PROCESS macro in order to test the mediation model. The findings show that work-family conflict has an indirect effect on psychological well-being through work-life balance. In the case of work-to-family conflict, a suppression effect is detected in which the mediator shows an underlying relationship between the work-to-family conflict and psychological well-being. On the other hand, family-to-work conflict is fully moderated by work-life balance. Based on these results, it can be concluded that enhancing the quality of work-life balance may help to reduce the negative impact of work-family conflict on psychological health. The findings of this study can be beneficial to organizations and policy makers to formulate policies that would enhance the mental health and work productivity of women professionals in China.

Anti-fatigue effect of pigeon meat hydrolysate on exercise mice and its underlying mechanism: Related to oxidative stress and energy metabolism

With the acceleration of the pace in modern society, fatigue caused by high-intensity physical work, long-term heavy mental work and lack of sleep has become a widespread and noticeable health problem. In this study, pigeon meat hydrolysate (PMH) with good antioxidant activity was prepared and the anti-fatigue effects of fractions in PMH with different molecular weights (MW) on exercise mice and the underlying mechanism were investigated. Results showed that mice gavaged with PMH and its fractions exhibited improved exhaustive swimming time when compared to the Control, with fraction at MW 1–5 kDa (PP2) showed the highest improvement. Meanwhile, PP2 decreased the levels of blood lactate acid (BLA) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and increased the contents of muscle and liver glycogen. And the activities of Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase in myocyte of mice were significantly enhanced, with the outflow of creatine kinase (CK) reduced. PP2 also exhibited significant antioxidant activity by increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and reducing the production of malondialdehyde (MDA), especially at relative higher dosages (M-PP2 and H-PP2). Metabolomics study indicated that the differential metabolites between PP2 and the Control group in liver tissues of mice were mainly related to the energy metabolism and central nervous system regulation pathways. All these results demonstrated that PP2 fraction in PMH at a dosage higher than 0.5 mg/g of mice body weight could significantly enhance the exercise endurance of mice and exert excellent anti-fatigue ability via alleviating oxidative stress and modulating energy metabolism in mice.

THE INTEGRATION OF PROFESSIONAL AND PATRIOTIC EDUCATION OF STUDENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECTS “MY FUTURE PROFESSION”

The article reveals the joint work of the authors on the creation of the Concept of integration of students’ professional and patriotic education in the preparation of individual research projects. The relevance of the Concept is substantiated through the study of the demands of society and the state, enshrined in the regulatory documents of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation. The purpose of the Concept is the formation of theoretical and methodological foundations for the development of a methodological system for the integration of professional and patriotic education of students of the 10th-11th forms. The didactic tool is independent mental work on an individual research project (IRP) “My Future Profession” in accordance with the technological and socio- economic profile. The authors of the article have developed conceptual provisions for the integration of professional and patriotic education of students when implementing the universal structure of the IRP “My Future Profession”, which contributes to the personal growth of students

Understanding and improving the quality of primary care for people in prison: a mixed-methods study.

People in prison are generally in poorer health than their peers in the community, often living with chronic illness and multimorbidity. Healthcare research in prisons has largely focused on specific problems, such as substance use; less attention has been paid to conditions routinely managed in primary care, such as diabetes or hypertension. It is important to understand how primary care in prisons is currently delivered in the United Kingdom and how it can be improved, in order to reduce health inequalities. To understand the quality of primary care in prison, including gaps and variations in care, in order to recommend how quality of prison health care can be improved. A mixed-methods study with six interlinked work packages. Predominantly the North of England. Between August 2019 and June 2022, we undertook the following work packages: (1) International scoping review of prison healthcare quality indicators. (2) Stakeholder consensus process to identify United Kingdom focused prison healthcare quality indicators. (3) Qualitative interview study with 21 people who had been in prison and 22 prison healthcare staff. (4) Quantitative analysis of anonymised, routinely collected data derived from prison healthcare records (~ 25,000 records across 13 prisons). (5) Stakeholder deliberation process to identify interventions to improve prison health care. (6a) Secondary analysis of the qualitative data set, focusing on mental health and (6b) analysis of the quantitative data set, focusing on health care of three mental health subgroups. Our scoping review found predominantly only papers from the United States of America and of variable rigour with the main finding being that performance measurement is very challenging in the prison healthcare setting. In collaboration with stakeholders, we prioritised, refined and applied a suite of 30 quality indicators across several healthcare domains. We found considerable scope for improvement in several indicators and wide variations in indicator achievement that could not be attributed to differences in prison population characteristics. Examples of indicators with scope for improvement included: diabetes care, medicines reconciliation and epilepsy review and control. Longer length of stay in prison was generally associated with higher achievement than shorter stays. Indicator achievement was generally low compared to that of community general practice. We found some encouraging trends and relatively good performance for a minority of indicators. Our qualitative interviews found that quality of health care is related to factors that exist at several levels but is heavily influenced by organisational factors, such as understaffing, leading to a reactive and sometimes crisis-led service. Our stakeholder deliberations suggested opportunities for improvement, ideally drawing on data to assess and drive improvement. Our mental health work package found that coded mental illness had mixed associations with indicator achievement, while the interviews revealed that mental distress is viewed by many as an inevitable facet of imprisonment. Our analyses of indicator achievement were limited by the quality and coverage of available data. Most study findings are localised to England so international applicability may differ. Marked variations in the quality of primary care in prisons are likely to be attributable to the local organisation and conditions of care delivery. Routinely collected data may offer a credible driver for change. This study is registered at researchregistry.com (Ref: 5098). This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR award ref: 17/05/26) and is published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research; Vol. 12, No. 46. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Work- & family-related stress & the risk of hazardous alcohol use: role of sex and social support

Abstract Background There is a lack of longitudinal studies investigating the effect of individual stress factors on alcohol use behaviour, and how sex and social support may mitigate the effect of these stressors. We aimed to determine the association of work- and family-related stressors with developing hazardous alcohol use over time among habitual drinkers, and to examine the role of sex and social support in these associations. Methods A sample of 4,046 individuals, working and living in Stockholm, age 25-55 years, habitual drinkers, who answered the PART study (Swedish acronym for Mental Health, Work and Social Relations) questionnaire regarding work- and family-related stress (exposures) in 1998-2000 (wave1) and 2001-2003 (wave2) were followed until 2010 (wave3) regarding hazardous alcohol use (outcome) measured using Alcohol-Use-Disorder-Identification-Test (AUDIT) score ( > =8 in men, > =7 in women). Weights for selective attrition were calculated, and crude and multivariate (adjusting for sociodemographic, health- and previous stress-related factors) logistic regression models, yielding Odds Ratios (OR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI), were used to estimate the exposure-outcome associations. Analyses were stratified for sex and social support in general and at work. Results Job strain (a combination of high demand and low control) was not statistically significantly associated with hazardous alcohol use (OR, CI: 1.3, 0.9-1.9). Among those reporting any family-related stress, a significantly higher risk was observed (OR, CI: 1.5, 1.1-2.1), particularly among women (OR, CI: 1.7, 1.02-2.7) and those with low social support (OR, CI: 2.1, 1.2-3.6). These associations became non-significant after adjusting for previous family-related stress. Conclusions Public health measures aiming to prevent transitions from habitual to hazardous alcohol use should give special attention to individuals with family-related stress, especially among women and those with low social support. Key messages • While job stress was not significantly associated, those experiencing family-related stress had a higher risk of hazardous alcohol use, especially among women and those without social support. • Individuals experiencing family-related stress, particularly women and those lacking social support, require special attention in public health prevention strategies for risky alcohol consumption.

Joint associations of psychological distress and working conditions with sickness absence in Finland

Abstract Background Psychological distress has increased remarkably, especially among younger age groups, during the last years. Both psychological distress and exposure to strenuous working conditions are known risk factors for sickness absence (SA). We examined whether psychological distress and working conditions are jointly associated with SA periods of 1-7 days and 8+ days among young and midlife Finnish employees. Methods We linked survey data from the Helsinki Health Study cohort from 2017 (response rate 51.5%) with the employer’s SA register for the City of Helsinki, Finland (82% consented to the linkage; n = 3949, 80% women, age 19-39 years). Mean follow-up time was 2.1 years. We calculated rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for SA periods of 1-7 days and 8+ days using negative binomial regression models among participants with and without psychological distress, and with and without exposure to strenuous working conditions. Psychological distress was measured with the emotional wellbeing subscale of RAND-36 (cut-off 60 points). Working conditions included physical and mental strenuousness of work and hours per day spent in heavy physical work. Results Participants with psychological distress and exposure to strenuous working conditions had the highest age- and gender-adjusted RRs for SA periods of ≥ 8 days (physically strenuous work: RR: 2.38, CI: 1.97-2.88; mentally strenuous work: RR: 2.08, CI: 1.72-2.53; ≥3 h per day spent in physical work: RR: 2.48, CI: 2.01-3.06), the interactions being additive. The associations were weaker for SA periods of 1-7 days. Adjusting for marital and employment status, education, alcohol use, smoking and body mass index only slightly attenuated these associations. Conclusions Psychological distress and exposure to strenuous working conditions were additively associated with SA. Both individual- and workplace-related risk factors for SA are important to be considered when planning preventive actions. Key messages • Young and early midlife Finnish employees with simultaneous psychological distress and exposure to strenuous working conditions had the highest rates of SA periods, the interactions being additive. • Both psychological distress and exposure to strenuous physical and mental working conditions should be considered when planning preventive actions to reduce employees’ SA.

Self-reported fatigue in people with post COVID-19: impact on functioning in daily life, and associated factors - a cross-sectional study.

To assess (i) the impact of self-reported fatigue on functioning in daily life, and (ii) the association with sociodemographics, physical capacity, and work ability among people with post-COVID-19. A cross-sectional study. Adults reporting post-COVID-19 symptoms for at least 2 months. Participants were recruited through social media and responded to an online survey between October 2021 and February 2022 regarding sociodemographics, COVID-19 symptoms, comorbidities, physical and mental fatigue, aerobic capacity, and work ability. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were used. A total of 614 participants (88% women, mean age 47 years, on average 13 months of symptoms) were included. A majority (≥ 84%) reported both physical fatigue and mental fatigue, according to the Fatigue Severity Scale and Mental Fatigue Scale. The fatigue impacted motivation, physical functioning, work, family, or social life, and increased sensitivity to stress and concentration difficulties. Among the factors, work ability had the strongest association with both physical fatigue and mental fatigue; odds ratio: 0.650 and 0.473, p < 0.001, respectively. This study found that self-reported fatigue is common among people with post-COVID-19, and negatively impacts functioning in daily life. To achieve a sustainable life and work situation, support and targeted rehabilitation interventions may be important.

Improving mental health among intensive care unit staff with communication skills training.

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) staff report that a large part of the work-related distress they experience is related to communication situations with colleagues, patients, and relatives. Based on these findings, the aim of the present study was to preliminary evaluate the effects of a novel Communication Skills Training (CST) program on mental health among ICU staff. The CST program was delivered to the entire work force of an ICU at a Swedish hospital and was evaluated as an uncontrolled clinical trial with three repeated measures. 100 participants were eligible and included in the analyses. The theoretical framework for the program was learning theory and cognitive behavioral therapy. The program was delivered by two psychologists and included one full-day lecture and three subsequent two-hour supervision sessions. Changes in mental health was evaluated with self-report questionnaires measuring perceived stress, general mental health, work engagement, and psychological flexibility. Analyses of three repeated measures showed significant improvements with 1.3 points lower perceived stress and 2.0 points lower general mental health after the intervention. No differences were seen in measures of work engagement or psychological flexibility. Findings of the study supports the utility of the CST program as an intervention to target perceived stress and general mental health within intensive care. These findings should be further validated in trials with improved design.

Dealing with Mental Health Problems and Work Performance Among Frontline Healthcare Workers Through the Influence of Digital Platform in Malaysian Private Hospitals: A conceptual analysis

The purpose of this study to examine mental health problems of frontline healthcare workers and their impact on work performance through exploring the influence of digital platforms in Malaysian private hospitals. This research is essential in addressing previous knowledge and theoretical gaps on the antecedents that denote to mental health problems and how digital platforms are used to improve mental health wellbeing. Basically, this study discusses the impact of four independent variables which are categorized as depression, anxiety, insomnia and distress factors whereas dependent variable is work performance. This study also will discuss problems concerning work performance of frontline healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, medical assistance, pharmacists and HR Management), specifically on poor service quality, turnover intention, work-related burnout, and exhaustion in Malaysian private hospitals. Hence, this study explores new solutions on the employees’ work performance related issues to create awareness for the Malaysian private hospitals in improving mental health issues among front-line healthcare workers to enhance their work performance through the influence of digital platforms. Private hospitals in Malaysia are experiencing critical situations related to poor employees’ performance which indirectly influence the overall productivity. Thus, private hospitals need to provide serious attention towards these related issues. A conceptual framework was formulated based on identified research gaps through the literature review. It is expected that this study will enhance the awareness for the management in Malaysian private hospitals on dealing with mental health problems which impacts work performance by exploring digital platforms as a solution.

Knowledge, attitudes, and support needs of obstetric and gynecological nurses and midwives toward perinatal mental health disorders screening in Central China: a multicenter cross-sectional survey.

The perinatal period is a time of increased vulnerability regarding maternal mental health status. Although guidelines and policies have been published for perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDs) screening in China, the knowledge, attitudes, and support needs of nurses and midwives toward implementing mental health screening programs during pregnancy remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the knowledge of PMHDs, attitudes and support needs related to implementing mental health screening during pregnancy among obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) nurses and midwives in the central region of China while identifying the related influencing factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 14 cities in Hubei, China, using convenience sampling from July to October 2023. The Chinese version of the Perinatal Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Perinatal Mental Health Attitudes Scale, and the Health Care Facilities Support Needs Scale were used to investigate the PMHDs knowledge, attitudes, and support needs of OB/GYN nurses and midwives, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27.0. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed, with a p-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. The average scores for knowledge, attitudes, and support needs were 6.09 ± 1.99 (total score: 13), 47.67 ± 8.80 (total score: 80), and 29.35 ± 4.66 (total score: 35), respectively. After adjusting for years of nursing experience and years of obstetrics and gynecology nursing experience, the multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that having mental health-related education or work experience [adjusted OR (aOR) = 1.43, p = 0.01], being midwives (aOR = 1.78, p < 0.001), and working in specialist maternity hospitals (aOR = 1.55, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with higher knowledge scores; having mental health related education or work experience (aOR = 1.59, p = 0.014) and working in specialist maternity hospitals (aOR = 1.42, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with higher support needs scores. OB/GYN nurses and midwives demonstrated insufficient knowledge and moderate attitudes toward PMHDs screening, and have great support need for PMHDs screening. To address these issues, medical organizations and relevant government sectors should enhance training for nurses and midwives on PMHDs and provide professional support to promote routine maternal mental health screening programs and improve perinatal mental health outcomes.

Work ability and mental health at return to work after COVID-19: A descriptive study among healthcare workers.

Healthcare workers (HCW) may experience anxiety and prolonged work schedules during pandemics. The mental health status after a COVID-19 infection and the work ability of HCW are interesting criteria in assessing their fitness to work at the return to work (RTW) medical visit. To assess mental health and work ability after a COVID-19 infection among HCW at the RTW medical visit. An observational cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out among HCW of Charles Nicolle Hospital of Tunisia infected with COVID-19 from September to December 2020. Anxiety and depression were screened using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). The perceived ability to work at RTW was measured using the Work Ability Index (WAI). We included 531 HCW. The median age was 40 years. HCW belonged to surgical departments (36.9%) and were nurses (32.4%). The median delay to RTW was 15 days (IQR: 13-18). At the RTW medical visit, certain anxiety and depression were found in 36.5% and 33.3% of the patients respectively. The perceived work ability was evaluated as good to very good in 37.8% of cases. The delay to RTW increased proportionally with a better-perceived work ability (p = 0.007). Our study described the perceived work ability and the prevalence of anxiety and depression among the HCW at the RTW medical visit after COVID-19 infection in the early stages of the pandemic. Specific strategies for RTW after COVID-19 should take into consideration the mental health and work ability of HCW.

Prevalence of Substance Use Among Students in Health Colleges in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Substance misuse is a global and substantial health concern that includes the inappropriate use of illicit substances or prescription and over-the-counter medications, which subsequently leads to poor outcomes such as a mental health disorder, financial distress, work malfunction, and academic failure. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of substance use, identify associated risk factors, explore potential complications within this specific demographic, and investigate the relationship between sociodemographic/lifestyle variables such as age, gender, marital status, family income, smoking, physical activity, and academic variables including grade point averages (GPAs), study hours, and the parental educational level with substance use history among students in health colleges in Saudi Arabia. This quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional study employed a questionnaire-based approach to collect data from students in health colleges across the regions of Saudi Arabia in the year 2022. The study found the prevalence of the use of various substances among students in health colleges to be 20.2%. Multiple factors were found to be associated with substance abuse. Smoking habits were the strongest predictor of substance misuse, with 49.1% of smokers reporting a history of substance use, compared to only 15.5% of non-smokers. This makes smoking the most impactful lifestyle factor related to substance use. Sleep patterns also played a significant role. A notable 43.6% of those who took up to two hours to fall asleep reported substance use, followed by 32.4% of those with sleep disorders and 25.5% with poor sleep quality. Unpredictable sleep patterns and a history of sleep disorders further strengthened the link between disrupted sleep and substance misuse. Academic performance, specifically GPA, showed that individuals with lower academic achievement were more likely to report substance use. Among those with a GPA below 3.0, 43.5% had a history of substance use, while only 16.7% of those with a GPA above 4.5 did so. The findings underscored the high prevalence of substance use, even among students in health colleges, and shed light on its connection to specific determinants. This poses a serious public health concern, as substance use is associated with poorer GPA, diminished knowledge acquisition, and overall academic performance. This, in turn, may negatively impact their future roles as healthcare providers, compromising both the quality of patient care and their personal well-being. These results emphasize the need for further investigations to unravel the underlying mechanisms of substance misuse and formulate innovative strategies to address this pressing issue effectively.

A pilot project to explore the mental health and wellbeing among cardiothoracic staff and the impact of virtual reality guided mindfulness

BackgroundThe Cardio-Thoracic (CT) professional group experienced a significant increase in stress and workload during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery (SCTS) in Great Britain and Ireland with the aim of endorsing positive change. Aim of this project was to understand the Mental Health (MH) and wellbeing status of the CT professionals and to explore Virtual Reality Mindfulness as an intervention to improve MH and wellbeing.MethodsIn February 2022, the SCTS created a Mental Health and Wellbeing Working Group to identify the problem and find solutions. This exploratory project was carried out in two stages. Stage one was an online survey conducted in March 2022 and stage two was a Virtual Reality (VR) mindfulness workshop in March 2023, using the Rescape™ VR mindfulness tool.ResultsStage one: An online QR code survey was sent out to 150 members with 129 (86%) completed responses. 92% expressed that SCTS should create awareness about mental health and wellbeing. 99% said that they should be allowed to speak up and create interventions for members to access, support and relax. Three main themes identified about why CT staff do not discuss their Mental Health problems were fear of lack of awareness (72%), lack of confidentiality (60%) and impact on career (60%). Stage two: 88 members attended the VR session of which 76 (86%) completed the anonymous questionnaire. 97% reported usage was a pleasurable experience, 91% felt more relaxed, 82% felt less stressed, 90% felt calmer and 89% had their mood enhanced.ConclusionOur study findings indicate that CT staff experience considerable effects on their mental health and wellbeing. However, there is a hesitancy to recognise and seek assistance due to concerns about confidentiality and career repercussions. The virtual reality mindfulness session served as a beneficial supplement, with a positive impact in this pilot cohort.

Multifaceted personas in context: mental health social worker perspectives on the intersection of mental health, social work and professional identity in England and Wales

Mental health provision in England and Wales has fluctuated between promoting social work as a valued, distinct contributor and viewing it as an adjunct to a generic workforce. Perspectives are divided on whether the profession should emphasise social work, mental health work or a cross-disciplinary blend, and definitional attempts have proved challenging, with wide variation in practice. This article explores how mental health social workers view their professional identity across practice contexts. Using a mixed-methods approach, 248 mental health social workers completed an online survey, and 30 undertook a subsequent semi-structured interview. Survey data were statistically analysed using Kruskal–Wallis H-tests to explore differences across settings. Qualitative interview data were analysed using a framework thematic approach. Participants demonstrated a strong but flexible professional identity, adopting a multifaceted, fluid sense of self that prioritised the aspect of identity most relevant to the context. Contrary to narratives of poor articulation, this was framed within a specialist knowledge- and values-based perspective that influenced practice approaches and accommodated context without requiring external validation. This fluidity suggests a need to move away from restrictive task-based definitions of social work in order to actively engage the workforce in developing professional roles that embrace this flexibility to offer holistic services.

Scoping Review of Vicarious Post-Traumatic Growth Among Nurses: Current Knowledge and Research Gaps.

Nurses frequently experience both direct and indirect trauma, leading to significant psychological challenges. While much research has focused on the negative impacts of such trauma, less attention has been given to vicarious post-traumatic growth (VPTG). Given the high levels of indirect trauma that nurses face, understanding VPTG is crucial for mitigating its adverse effects and enhancing mental health and work efficiency. To map and synthesize the literature on vicarious post-traumatic growth and identify key knowledge gaps in vicarious post-traumatic growth research. This scoping review follows the approach proposed by Arksey and O'Malley. We conducted this scoping review using the methodology recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute, supported by the PAGER framework. We searched 7 databases and gray literature on May 19, 2023 to obtain relevant research. Finally, we included 29 studies from 9 countries. There are currently no reliable data on the incidence of vicarious post-traumatic growth among nurses worldwide. There are multiple instruments available to investigate vicarious post-traumatic growth in nurses, and the vicarious post-traumatic growth inventory is more recommended. Factors affecting nurses' vicarious post-traumatic growth include coping styles, psychological factors, and social support. Indirect trauma exposure and vicarious post-traumatic growth coexist. There are currently three intervention strategies for vicarious post-traumatic growth, but none have been proven in clinical trials. This is the first scoping review on vicarious post-traumatic growth, there are a lot of research deficiencies and gaps in current research on vicarious post-traumatic growth for nurses. In view of the impact of secondary traumatic events on nurses, future research should pay more attention to nurses' vicarious post-traumatic growth and promote the development of vicarious post-traumatic growth.

THEORETICAL PRINCIPLES OF THE FORMATION OF SPIRITUAL CULTURE IN FUTURE TEACHERS OF ARTISTS

The problem of spirituality, spiritual culture and their role in the formation of the creative personality of student youth is quite relevant. The process of forming spirituality is an important aspect of the modern humane educational paradigm. According to the scientific community, it is spirituality that expresses the degree of "humanization" of the pedagogical process. Questions of spirituality have interested humanity at all times and have been studied by many sciences: philosophy, pedagogy, psychology, sociology, ethics, aesthetics, etc. In the New Ukrainian School Program in the Progress to Values, it is stated that now it is important to intensify efforts to raise the spiritual level of Ukrainian youth, to form a stable system of deep moral and spiritual values in them. The purpose of the article is to describe the concept of spiritual culture and the formation of artistic ideas in future teachers during the study of Ukrainian folk art. Analysis, synthesis and modeling methods were used to study the state of research. The results of our research was carried out with the help of empirical methods: pedagogical observation, questionnaires, interviews, testing, the method of experimental evaluations. Mathematical statistics methods were used to process the research results. In the research, we used a complex of general scientific and pedagogical methods. To ensure an objective and comprehensive study of the researched phenomenon, an analysis of scientific, scientific-methodical, and art sources was carried out; the state of development of the problem and prospects for further research were determined; generalization of pedagogical experience in teaching art in a higher education institution. The formation of a spiritual personality takes place in the interconnected process of education and training. An important role in the formation of the spiritual sphere of the individual belongs to education. Its tasks are classified according to the following directions: formation of a scientific outlook; education of a conscious attitude to learning, development of cognitive activity and culture of mental work; education of political consciousness and development of civic activity; education of a creative attitude to work, preparation for a conscious choice of profession; education of morality and culture of behavior; formation of legal awareness and education of civil responsibility; education of aesthetic culture and development of artistic abilities, etc.

The impact of the behavior and lifestyle of physical and mental workers on their depressive symptoms

Objective: To analyze the depressive symptoms of physical and mental workers and the impact of their behavior and lifestyle on their depressive symptoms. Methods: In August 2022, a cross-sectional study design was adopted to select 553 workers as research subjects using cluster sampling. General demographic information, health-related behaviors and lifestyles were collected, and their depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). The differences in general demographic information, health-related behaviors and lifestyles between physical and mental workers were analyzed, and logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of depressive symptoms in occupational populations. Results: Among the 553 subjects, 317 were physical workers (57.32%) and 236 were mental workers (42.68%). Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of education level, monthly income, smoking rate, regular physical exercise rate and appropriate sleep time rate (P<0.05). The score and the detection rate of depression symptoms among physical workers were (9.67±2.75) points and 20.82% (66/317), respectively, which were higher than those of mental workers [(8.34±2.18) points, 12.71% (30/236) ] (t=6.13, χ(2)=6.20, P<0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that smoking, regular physical exercise, appropriate sleep time and mental work were influencing factors of depressive symptoms among the occupational population (OR=1.592, 95%CI: 1.316-1.825; OR=0.659, 95%CI: 0.416-0.830; OR=0.502, 95%CI: 0.257-0.717; OR=0.839, 95%CI: 0.522-0.967; P<0.05) . Conclusion: The depressive symptoms of physical workers are more serious than those of mental workers. Low education level, not frequently participating in physical exercise, smoking and sleep disorder are potential risk factors that affect the depressive symptoms of the occupational population.

Integrating vocational and higher education to train mental health professionals: a qualitative investigation

ABSTRACT Objective This study investigates an integrated approach to training higher education students for mental health work by exploring the experiences of undergraduate psychology students completing a Certificate IV in Mental Health during their degree. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 8 undergraduate psychology students, in which participants were asked about their experiences, knowledge and skills gained through their course, and career aspirations on course completion. Data were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Results Seven themes were identified ‘Rewarding challenge’, ‘Working with people’, ‘Understanding mental health’, ‘Value of skills’, ‘Psychologist-as-calling’, ‘Testing/Affirming/Broadening’, and ‘Theory-Practice’. Participants reported increased knowledge and skills concerning working within a mental health context. They also reported that completing the Certificate IV in Mental Health affirmed their career aspirations to work in the mental health sector as a general mental health professional or as a psychologist. Discussion Although the benefits to students are clear, exploring this approach as a means to train mental health workers to meet existing service gaps merits further discussion. These findings have implications for using integrated qualifications as a training model for the mental health workforce.