Shift work which requires extreme time commitment outside normal working hours places great strain on the mentality of workers, specifically those working in careers relating to health or emergency services. This report will discuss whether shift work has a negative impact on the mentality of police officers specifically by investigating what shift work is, the difference between good and bad mental health, the effect shift work has on the mental health of employees and to prevent or treat these effects.
What is shift work?
Shift work is work which takes place outside the customary 9am-5pm day (Foundation, 2017). It is commonly on a rotation and can involve extremely early morning shifts, or evening-late night shifts (Ockenden, 2012). The average worker, can have a total of roughly 38 hours per week, however a shift workers week can be as extreme as 55 hours, in the case of doctors, although this does not stand for every shift work occupation. (Government, 2017). Multiple industries rely heavily on shift work (Government, 2017), some of these occupations associated include protective service (such as Police Officers and Firefighters), food preparation and serving, healthcare, and transportation (Foundation, 2017).
What is good and bad mental health?
Maintaining good mental health is essential to everyday living. A good mentality affects ones outlook on life and ability to function in everyday life. According to psychologist Martin Seligman good mental health boils down
Mental health is defined as our emotional psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act. Mental health also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. Maintaining healthy mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence and throughout adulthood. People suffering from mental health disorders often see a change in their mood, thinking and behavior. One in 5 Americans adults experience a mental health issue. One in 10 young people experienced a period of major depression. And 1 in 20 Americans lived with a serious mental health illness (Mental Health Myths and Facts). Factors contribute to mental health problems including; biological facts, such as genes or brain chemistry, life experiences, such as traumatic events or abuse, or family history or mental health problems. Positive allows people to realize their full potential, cope with stress of life, work productively and making meaningful contributions to society (What is
Hi Micquaya. When I think of mental health itself, I do not automatically think of people that are suffering from a psychological issue. Mental health to me is just your psychological status. Mental illness causes me to think a psychological issue. The two are not the same in my eyes. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Physical health is just the status but if I were to say a physical disability it is completely different. The ways to promote good mental health are numerous. Taking care of your body is definitely a good way. Many times our mental status is directly related to our physical health. I know for me, it is hard to think clear when I do not get enough sleep.
An individual can take steps to promote their mental well-being and mental health. These steps could be social connections, being active, learning and developing themselves, social involvement and self awareness. Connecting with other people and developing relationships are important for an individual’s mental well-being. Staying active can help maintain a positive mental state. Learning new skills can create a sense of achievement and improve self esteem. Involvement in the local community or other social groups can develop strong social inclusion encouraging mental well-being. Being aware of own feelings and emotional state means an individual can maintain their mental well-being.
The negative impacts of shift work on workers’ health such as fatigue and sleep which are the main complain among the staff, job performance, psychosocial well-being, and job dissatisfaction have been
The impact of rotating shift work on police officers in terms of fatigue, increased stress, and other long term medical problems cannot be overstated. In 2011, an in-depth research project, “Sleep disorders, health, and safety in police officers” (JAMA, 2011), was conducted involving a group of North American police officers in regards to the sleep disorders and the health and safety of the officers participating. The study involved 4,957 officers that worked rotating shifts over a period of approximately two years. The findings were startling and revealed that 3,930 officers (79.3%) were overweight or obese. Another 40.7% tested positive for at least one (1) sleep disorder and the majority of those that tested positive for a disorder
Mental Health is the psychological well-being which incorporates our mental and social prosperity. It influences how we think, feel, and act. It additionally decides how we handle pressure, identify with others, and settle on decisions (Mentalhealth.gov). Psychological wellness is critical at each phase of life, from youth and pre-adulthood through adulthood. Through the span of your life, on the off chance that you encounter psychological wellness issues, your reasoning, disposition, and conduct could be influenced (Mentalhealth.gov). Numerous components add to emotional wellness issues, which includes; Family history of emotional wellness issues, Biological factors of qualities such as the mind, and Life encounters relating to injury or abuse. Help is available for people with Mental Health issues. People with mental health difficulties can become better and many recovers entirely (Mentalhealth.gov).
It is problematic that healthcare professions work rotating shifts because this impedes on the ability of the human body to function properly. Rotating shifts means that everyday their shifts are at different times and different lengths of time. The human body needs to be in line with the environment and when the sun is up the body naturally is awake and alert and during night time the body goes dormant to sleep, this is called circadian rhythm. The body has a circadian clock and when this is disrupted this can lead to depression and anxiety. This can lead to exhaustion and irritation that can cause someone to make mistakes. This can also lead to sleep debt and cause insomnia that can affect the mental alertness. Sleep allows the body to fight
Before introducing the workplace issues related to the development of four-day workweek, a clear definition of this schedule is needed. According to Department of Labor (n.d.), “A workweek is a fixed and regularly recurring period of 168 hours, or seven consecutive 24-hour periods. The workweek does not have to coincide with the calendar week, but instead it may begin on any day of the week and at any hour of the day.” It might be the “four-day, 32-hour workweek – more leisure, less work” (Wernette 1), or the “three-day, 40 hour, compressed work week” that Vega
Patients in a hospital and/or healthcare facilities have to be cared for all day and all night, everyday of the week by nurses. The usual way to fulfill this need is to divide up the day into three 8-hour shifts. Different shifts have been put into place to help improve nurse satisfaction, decrease the nursing shortage and save the hospital money. The 24-hour day is made up of two 12-hour shifts; 12 hours in the day and 12 hours at night. There has been quite an ongoing debate over the years regarding this issue of nurses working over 8 hours in a single day. Many people, such as hospital nursing administrators, have reason to believe that working long hour shifts causes more errors in
Mental health is essential to overall health as well as efficiency. It is the foundation for thriving contributions to family, district, and culture. All through the lifespan, mental health is the source of thoughts and communication skills, knowledge, pliability, and self-esteem. It is all too easy to dismiss the worth of mental health until troubles emerges (Brager, G. & Holloway, S., 1978). Mental health troubles and illnesses are factual and disabling conditions that are experienced by one in five Americans. Those who do not get treatment, mental illnesses can consequence in disability and desolation for families, schools, societies, and the workplace.
Mental Health as described by LaVeist and Thomas (2005) is “a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity” (p. 84). Mental health functioning is important regarding a person’s well-being, being able to interact with others in a healthy manner, and contributes many things to
It is my opinion that shift work is another potential hazard to me as an employee in the Healthcare Industry. It is my belief that employees on nightshift work or those working irregular hours may be more susceptible to errors and accidents, mainly due to fatigue or
Being in a state of good mental health is more than simply the absence of a mental disorder, such as depression, mania, dissociative identity disorder, or anxiety. To be mentally healthy is to have a state of mind in which one is able to cope with the stresses of daily life, is able to be work and be productive, and realize his or her capabilities and potential. Simply put, mental health acts as the basis for an individual’s effective functioning and sense of well-being.
Mental health is as important as physical health. Mental health is a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people and the ability to adapt to change to cope with adversity.
Therefore, it is essentially important for every student to be aware of the steps they can do in order to improve their mental health which leads to a better life style and academic performance. These steps include: