Essay On Mental Health In Nursing

Health is defined by the World Health Organisation as the overall physical, mental and social state of well-being. In Australia, mental illness is one of the leading causes of absence at work and the inability to work long-term. The World Health Organisation defined mental health as a state where individuals can cope with stress to realise their potential and work productively contributing to her or his community. Mental health conditions are said to cost Australian organisations AUD$11 to AUD$12 billion each year from absenteeism, weakened work performance, increased turnovers and claims. One in six people of working age is estimated to suffer from mental illness, most commonly depression and anxiety, and is associated with increased personal and economic costs. Mental health difficulties are oftentimes conceptualised as incapability to work effectively, however, majority of mental illness in the workplace is treatable and some are preventable. Nursing, as a ‘helping profession’, is a demanding, high-risk and stressful profession that exposes the nurses to both acute and

This causes anxiety, anger and depression among others. Occupational stress occurs in every occupation but it is seen to be more frequent and severe in occupations related to human health. Professions involving human contact and fast decision-making are the most stressful, and the healthcare profession is considered to be among the first six most stressful ones because of the nature of the work and the many factors contributing to the stress experienced from