While discussing mental health has become more normalized in recent years, this topic still carries stigma among healthcare professionals. Due to the nature of the sector, where high empathy, stoicism, and resilience are required to ensure the well-being of others, it is easy to overlook one's own needs.
However, healthcare staff face challenging situations daily that can severely impact their mental health. Not surprisingly, studies on professionals after the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that their mental well-being is precarious, showing higher signs of depression and stress compared to the general population.
In Colombia, the Ministry of Health recognized the importance of mental health as one of the biggest risks in the healthcare sector and invited companies, including Health Service Providers (IPS), to survey their workers to detect serious symptoms in time.
While changes in healthcare institutions are undoubtedly necessary to improve work hours and medical uniforms, sector staff can engage in extracurricular activities and make small changes in their routine to enhance their mental health.
Let's delve into three tips for achieving this.
Connect Regularly with Others
The pandemic demonstrated the adverse effects of limited social interaction, which can also occur even when not in times of lockdown. Although it may seem obvious, many forget the great benefits of staying in touch with loved ones, whether family, friends, or work colleagues.
A study showed that healthcare professionals who interacted little with their loved ones after the pandemic suffered from loneliness more easily, which has been linked to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sleep problems.
To put this into practice, it is important to find ways to prioritize spending time with family and friends to combat loneliness. Phone calls can also help when meeting in person isn't feasible. This can also be reinforced during the workday to improve mental health at work by scheduling lunches with colleagues or taking breaks together when possible.
Additionally, taking time off to meet new people in a bookstore, café, or while traveling on vacation can help reduce loneliness and its negative effects. Traveling can be particularly beneficial as it takes us out of our familiar context, providing a mental reset that alleviates stress.
A study published in Nature even found that those who frequently change their environment tend to be happier. While traveling all the time is not easy, planning vacations to experience new cultures and meet new people helps enrich our perspectives.
Get Physically and Mentally Active
Engaging in extracurricular activities relieves daily stress and reduces burnout—something many doctors confirm. A recent study revealed that 93% of surveyed doctors view external interests as a favorable factor for reducing work fatigue and disconnection.
A popular hobby that combines physical and mental aspects is yoga. It has been shown that practicing this discipline, which combines meditation with breathing and relaxation exercises, contributes to treating depression. Additionally, running has also been considered an excellent therapy exercise, helping to mitigate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Although we may strongly identify with our vocation as healthcare professionals, it is also important to set aside our scrubs from time to time. Remembering that we can build a life outside of work allows us to expand our horizons, stay physically and mentally active, and achieve a better balance between personal and professional life.
Establish a Routine
Having a routine is fundamental for implementing positive changes in our daily lives. In fact, the mental health organization Psychology Today recommends establishing a daily routine to reduce stress and anxiety.
Although the work life of healthcare professionals brings unexpected changes, trying to maintain a routine as much as possible is important for establishing a sense of control and planning rest periods.
For example, setting aside weekly time to connect with nature can have a positive impact on mental health. This could be visiting a nearby park, taking care of plants and flowers at home, or having a picnic in the park with friends.
We must start prioritizing mental health at work. In addition to demanding better working conditions from institutions and governments, staff can adopt daily habits to reduce the adverse effects of anxiety, depression, PTSD, among others. Although these changes in daily life may seem small, their positive impact can make a difference in our lives.
Visit our blog section to read about the impact of medical uniforms on our work performance, primal cognition, color psychology, and other topics.
