Working on the edge: Stresses and rewards of work in a front-line mental health service

Bowden, Gillian Elaine, Smith, Joanna Christina Elizabeth, Parker, Pamela Anne and Boxall, Matthew James Christian (2015) Working on the edge: Stresses and rewards of work in a front-line mental health service. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 22 (6). pp. 488-501. ISSN 1063-3995

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Abstract

This study sought to investigate frontline mental health professionals' perceptions of work stress and the rewards and demands associated with their work. Locally known as ‘linkworkers’, and from a variety of professional backgrounds, these staff worked mainly in general practice settings. Individual interviews were conducted with nine linkworkers, and the interview transcripts were analysed thematically. The main themes identified were the following: demands, coping, individual resilience, ownership and creativity, boundaries, secure base and service philosophy and ethos. Themes, categories and sub categories were presented and discussed with seven of the linkworkers in two focus groups. Focus group transcripts were analysed, and additional themes of recognizing limitations, disillusionment and the dilemma of setting boundaries were identified. These themes overlapped with those previously identified but were associated with service changes over time. The themes of ownership and creativity and service philosophy and ethos are significant, not only in relation to their impact on individual linkworkers but also in terms of their relevance for establishing and maintaining morale, engagement and a reflective culture within a service. The relevance of this work to accessible and newly developing mental health services is considered. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	work stress,mental health,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	16 Mar 2016 16:00
Last Modified:	24 Sep 2024 11:36
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/57494
DOI:	10.1002/cpp.1912

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