Recently, Claudia Yaya, a professor of the Master’s in Clinical Psychology at ISEP University, spoke with Alexandra Figueroa, a journalist from El Espejo media, about the mental health challenges faced by healthcare workers. In this interview, Yaya highlighted the need for a profound change in how healthcare institutions and society perceive and support these professionals, who, like any human being, face emotional and psychological exhaustion and are exposed to extreme working conditions to perform their duties healthily.
The Reality Behind the Term “Heroes”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers were recognized as “heroes” for their constant work and readiness in times of crisis. However, Claudia Yaya, a mental health specialist, points out that this label can be counterproductive, as it conceals the reality that these professionals also need help. For Yaya, more than heroes, healthcare workers are individuals who require psychological support and working conditions that do not push them to their limits.
The professor explains that the concept of heroism can prevent these professionals from seeking support when they need it, fearing it might be seen as a sign of weakness. Yaya asserts that change begins with “psychoeducation” that helps professionals understand that self-care is key to their mental health and to providing quality patient care.
Risk Factors: Burnout Syndrome, Post-Traumatic Stress, and Stigmatization
Working in high-pressure environments, facing life-or-death situations, and managing long shifts are factors that directly affect the mental health of healthcare personnel, according to Yaya. These factors can trigger problems such as burnout syndrome, post-traumatic stress, and vicarious trauma. The latter refers to the tendency to experience patients’ pain so closely that it negatively impacts the professional’s life.
Another key factor is the stigma associated with seeking psychological help. As Yaya highlights, “the highly demanding training” that healthcare professionals receive leads them to believe they must know everything and handle everything themselves. This causes many of them to view seeking emotional support as something that diminishes their professionalism.
Creating a Healthy Work Environment
To improve the well-being of healthcare workers, Yaya suggests that institutions must pay attention to working conditions. It is necessary to ensure that shifts are not excessively long and to provide adequate rest areas. According to Yaya, it is crucial for managers to understand the importance of offering workers a healthy environment that allows them to manage work-related stress.
“It is important for bosses and managers to understand the need to provide them with rest areas,” explains Yaya, emphasizing that an adequate work environment can significantly reduce the risk of mental exhaustion. Establishing rest areas and adjusting shift rotations to prevent overload are fundamental steps to protect the mental health of professionals.
Listening Spaces: The Importance of an Organizational Psychologist
In addition to improving working conditions, Yaya highlights the need for institutions to have an organizational psychologist who can offer constant support and guidance. This type of professional can help workers recognize early symptoms of stress or exhaustion and provide them with tools for managing them. The presence of an organizational psychologist also opens the door to creating listening and support spaces in the workplace.
Self-Care Practices for Healthcare Workers
Yaya points out that, in addition to institutional support, workers themselves can take self-care measures to improve their well-being. These practices range from maintaining a balanced diet to getting enough sleep, exercising, and seeking emotional help when necessary. For the professor, developing self-care is essential, not only for the personal well-being of each professional but also because the benefits are reflected in the work environment and the quality of service they provide to patients.
Towards a Change in Organizational Culture
The interview concludes with a call to healthcare institutions to adopt a cultural change. Instead of viewing workers as inexhaustible resources, it is fundamental to recognize their humanity and the need to care for and support them. “We need them to be cared for, to take care of themselves, so that they can truly take care of the rest of us,“ Yaya stated.
By implementing strategies that support the mental and physical well-being of these professionals, not only is their personal health contributed to, but a stronger healthcare system capable of facing future challenges is also ensured.
Conclusion
The conversation with Claudia Yaya, originally published in Revista Espejo, reminds us that caring for the mental health of healthcare workers is essential for a healthy society. Through changes in the work environment, psychological support, and the promotion of self-care, we can protect those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.
To read the original article published in La Revista Espejo, you can click here.