Mental suffering in mental health workers: A management perspective

Abstract

The service manager plays a relevant role in the administration of subjective interrelationships within the team and with the users, as well as in preserving the mental health of these professionals. The aim of this article is to analyze and discuss the mental suffering of professionals in mental health teams, as well the management strategies for handling, care, and prevention, based on the perceptions of the managers of the Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS). The research was conducted in 2022, with nine managers from CAPS III and Alcohol and Drug units in the city of Campinas-SP. Narratives were analyzed and systematized into thematic categories: management skills, manager-team conflicts, signs of mental distress, psychosocial factors related to work, work processes, collective and individual management, and administrative difficulties. The results highlighted the challenges of management, and the strategies adopted, such as the need for attentive listening to the workers, critical analysis of work processes, and the maintenance of spaces for dialogue, to prevent or identify signs of distress in the team. This research contributes to the understanding of the mental distress faced by mental health professionals and emphasizes the role of management in promoting health and addressing the challenges experienced by these professionals.