By Mary-Lou MacDonald MSc, Canada National Practice Lead, Health & Performance
Many doctors and nurses are so busy taking care of their patients that they forget to take care of themselves – despite the fact that the Canadian Medical Association’s Code of Ethics places an obligation on them to do just that.1
What’s more, taking care of themselves means addressing both their physical and their mental health. Ignoring either side can lead to a variety of serious repercussions both at work and in their personal lives.
Mental and Physical Health
Studies show that 70% of absences in the workplace are associated with mental health issues.4 Among healthcare workers, that number isn’t just high – it’s debilitating. Poor mental health among healthcare workers leads to poor employee performance, higher rates of physical illness, higher rates of absenteeism, a greater number of workplace accidents, and a larger staff turnover.2
The World Health Organization describes burnout as the result of workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed.3 Employee burnout is rampant. But because of the culture of healthcare facilities – in which there is constant pressure to get the work done, to do the work perfectly and to push yourself to continue at an unhealthy pace – it’s a challenge to recognize and deal with the problem appropriately.
Even when the illness is physical and visible, there’s still a lot of pressure for those healthcare workers who are out on disability to return to work quickly. They often return too early, only to reinjure themselves.
In addition, employees can often experience serious mental health issues once they do come back to work. Shift work is hard. Jobs in healthcare are stressful. Violence from patients is on the rise. Many facilities don’t have the right equipment for patient transfer and lifting, so the workplace isn’t safe.
Moving Toward a Solution
All too often, facility or hospital leadership has no idea what to do or where to start. They may not understand the mental health issues or they are simply overwhelmed by the challenges. The good news is their greatest asset could be their healthcare advisor. These advisors are more than able to do the following:
- Share knowledge with the leadership team. It may be a tough sell, but it’s crucial for advisors to convince senior leadership of the importance of these issues. Healthcare workers should not be afraid to speak up and ask for help, but that kind of major culture shift happens from the top down. When leadership provides resources around mental health and models the importance of mental health in their own lives, it trickles down. Given patient safety is a high priority for those responsible for the healthcare system, discussing the link between worker safety and patient safety is important.
- Increase awareness about healthy workplaces. Senior leaders need to show that they value the mental and physical health of their employees. Advisors can train all people leaders to identify mental health problems and how to approach employees who are struggling. They can also post reminders around the physical risks, including technology related to transferring patients and slips, trips and falls.
- Provide expertise to resolve the problem. Once the organization has started along the path, they may be unsure of their next steps. An advisor providing consulting support to guide them back to a healthier workplace is invaluable. Additionally, being prepared with the right benefits options can help convince leadership to take action.
We all need to take care of ourselves, including doctors and nurses. And the right advisor can help guide you back toward a healthy, safe workplace.
HUB International’s team of brokers can be your advisors; they are ready to help you assess, access and put in place programs and services to help address the mental and physical health of your workforce.
1As quoted in “Physician Health: Putting Yourself First,” Canadian Medical Protective Association, 2015, https://www.cmpa-acpm.ca/en/advice-publications/browse-articles/2015/physician-health-putting-yourself-first
2Mental Health and Work: Impact, Issues and Good Practices,” World Health Organization, 2000, https://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/712.pdf.