The process of becoming mentally ill among Family Health Strategy workers

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Family Health Strategy Workers deal with situations that eventually lead to psychological distress. The objective of the present study was to understand these workers’ process of becoming mentally ill and the triggering factors. This qualitative study is founded on social epidemiology, and was performed with 36 workers of 17 Family Health Units of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, between May and July 2009. Semi-structured interviews were performed and then analyzed using Alceste 4.8, revealing four thematic classes: organization of the working process; work overload and personal demands; family and conflicting relationships; stress and health issues of significant others. Twenty-two subjects became ill, mainly due to anxiety disorders, with work being the indicated cause. This fact suggests that the promotion of workers’ health should take place outside their work area, as health system workers must also be cared for.

Descriptors: Nursing; Stress, Psychological; Family Health; Occupational Health.