Resilience In Healthcare: Therapy for Arizona Healthcare Workers
Time recently wrote a bit about burnout and resignation. As mental health providers, we hear and see this situation coming up more and more in our work.
What is burnout?
Burnout is a psychological condition where individuals notice changes in their mental and physical health-that then leads to problems in many other areas of their life.
Time reports, “September 2020, 76% of U.S. health care workers reported exhaustion and burnout, according to the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation (NIHCM). Even before the pandemic, between 35% and 54% of U.S. doctors and nurses reported symptoms of burnout, NIHCM says. But any person, in any profession, can experience burnout, and right now, people are reporting it in droves.”
One of our specialities is treating healthcare workers. Requests for therapy have increased during the pandemic & as a result we’ve increased our capacity to care for and provide evidenced-based trauma therapy to healthcare workers.
The awareness and of mental health as a component of whole health has been widely acknowledged. The American Psychiatric Nurses Association released a position paper stating the following:
“The American Psychiatric Nurses Association, an organization representing all levels of psychiatric-mental health nursing, asserts that whole health begins with mental health.7 APNA takes the position that mental health promotion, through prevention, recognition and adequate care and treatment, must be at the starting point of and comprehensively woven throughout the delivery of services within the American health care system. Further, our definition of health must be transformed to one which recognizes mental health as foundational for all health.
This position is supported by the following points:
- Health is a “state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of a disease or infirmity”8
- There is a broad consensus amongst experts in health care that transforming America’s system to a proactive one that promotes health and wellness, rather than reactively treating illness, is a necessity.9
- Mental illnesses are risk factors that affect the incidence and prognosis of ‘noncommunicable’ diseases and addressing mental illnesses delays progression, improves survival outcomes, and reduces health care costs associated with noncommunicable diseases.9
- Research shows a strong link between adverse childhood experiences and long-term negative health and well-being outcomes.10“
Our practitioners are well versed in burnout and as fellow healthcare workers, we understand the tremendous responsibility that healthcare providers shoulder on a daily basis.
Some things we can do to help you or your loved one manage stress and burnout are the following:
- Identify sources of distress and ways to manage the distress.
- Teach you ways to manage the physical distress associated with burnout.
- Help create & implement a self-care plan.
- We make it easy to access help, you can call 602-661-0200 to book an appointment or schedule online.
For those supervising physicians and other healthcare workers, the AMA has some great articles with tips.
TRSA providers are well versed in the treatment of burnout, we provide a safe and supportive space to work through burnout and begin recovery. Learn more here: http://www.trsofaz.com or call today to book an appointment to begin therapy, 602-661-0200
Sources & References:
Ducharme, J. (2021, October 14). Companies are finally fighting burnout during the pandemic. Time. Retrieved November 10, 2021, from https://time.com/6106656/workplace-burnout-pandemic/.
Whole health begins with mental health. APNA. (2021, September 20). Retrieved November 10, 2021, from https://www.apna.org/news/mental-health-policy/.
Trauma Recovery Services of Arizona 