Emotional demands, responsibility, and job complexity feature more in some jobs than others. Wieclaw et al1 studied the risks of affective and stress related illness in health services professionals. Almost 29
000 cases with first hospital attendance for the two mental illnesses were identified from a central psychiatric registry and compared with 145
000 never‐admitted matched referents, a 5% sample of the Danish population. Relative risks were raised up to 1.49‐fold, being higher in education and social services, especially in men working in female predominated professions. Two other papers describe an initiative to prevent mental ill health in hospital staff. Bourbonnais et al2,3 developed, implemented and evaluated a participative problem solving intervention aimed at reducing job demands and boosting decision latitude, support, and rewards. In a quasi‐experimental design, pre‐ and post‐intervention responses were compared, as were those in a control arm. The experimental group reported fewer risk factors and sleep problems, and less burnout. Sleep problems also improved in controls but burnout got worse. After allowing for covariates the authors considered the intervention to be useful.
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