Experiences and Challenges of Mental Health Professionals in the National Capital Region

This study examines the Experiences and Challenges of Mental Health Professionals in the National Capital Region. This study shed light on the day–to–day experiences of mental health practitioners. It distinguished the challenges they encountered while working in the clinical setting, specifically in the psychiatric field. Eight participants comprising two (2) psychologists, three (3) psychiatric nurses, two (2) occupational/activity therapists, and one (1) guidance counselor who are residing in the National Capital Region were specifically selected to participate in this study through purposive and snowball sampling. The structured interview was conducted through a one–on–one, face–to–face, and online interview through the use of Google Meet and Zoom platforms to cater to the availability of the respondents. The interviews lasted for an hour. The participants were asked twenty (20) questions divided into the three main domains that the researchers wished to focus on Work Performance, Relationships to the Community, and Family. Five main themes emerged from the overall analysis of the data extracted from the participants. These are Complex Fields of Mental Health Practice, Continuous Learning, Community Approach to Mental Health, work-life balance, and Work Experience Personality. Under these main themes are specific sub–themes that further summarize the experiences and challenges of mental health professionals. Furthermore, it is highly recommended that comprehensive strategies be implemented specifically to address the challenges highlighted in this study.

Content

Author and article information

Journal

Title: ScienceOpen Preprints

Publisher: ScienceOpen

Publication date (Electronic preprint): 18 February 2024

Affiliations

[1 ] Rizal Technological University ( https://ror.org/011vbeg19)

Author notes

[* ]Email: 2020-102033@ 123456rtu.edu.ph .

Author information

Carlos Miguel Cruz https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7208-5060

Article

DOI: 10.14293/PR2199.000711.v1

SO-VID: 76971ef6-bc12-4076-bb1b-91f8078e644a

License:

This work has been published open access under Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0 , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Conditions, terms of use and publishing policy can be found at www.scienceopen.com .

History

Date received : 18 February 2024

References

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Cocker Fiona, Joss Nerida. Compassion Fatigue among Healthcare, Emergency and Community Service Workers: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Vol. 13(6)2016. MDPI AG. [Cross Ref]
Groenewald Thomas. A Phenomenological Research Design Illustrated. International Journal of Qualitative Methods. Vol. 3(1):42–55. 2004. SAGE Publications. [Cross Ref]
Hilton N. Zoe, Addison Sonja, Ham Elke, C. Rodrigues Nicole, Seto Michael C.. Workplace violence and risk factors for PTSD among psychiatric nurses: Systematic review and directions for future research and practice. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. Vol. 29(2):186–203. 2022. Wiley. [Cross Ref]
Hu Wei Ming, Yin Xu Yuan, Yin Xiao Li, Zhu Zhen Hua, Guan Lu Yang, Hou Wen Long, Yin Guang Zhong, Jiang Cai Xia, Xu Xiao Wen, Gao Song Tian, Jia Qiu Fang, Hui Li. Prevalence, social-demographic and cognitive correlates of depression in Chinese psychiatric medical staff. Journal of Affective Disorders. Vol. 263:60–63. 2020. Elsevier BV. [Cross Ref]
Johanna Zetterberg, Elin Visti, Mats Holmberg, Henrik Andersson, Jonas Aléx. Nurses’ experiences of encountering patients with mental illness in prehospital emergency care – a qualitative interview study. BMC Nursing. Vol. 21(1)2022. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. [Cross Ref]
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Knapik Joseph, Ang Philip, Reynolds Katy, Jones Bruce. Physical Fitness, Age, and Injury Incidence in Infantry Soldiers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Vol. 35(6):598–603. 1993. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). [Cross Ref]
Lally John, Tully John, Samaniego Rene. Mental health services in the Philippines. BJPsych International. Vol. 16(03):62–64. 2019. Royal College of Psychiatrists. [Cross Ref]
O’Connor Karen, Muller Neff Deirdre, Pitman Steve. Burnout in mental health professionals: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and determinants. European Psychiatry. Vol. 53:74–99. 2018. Cambridge University Press (CUP). [Cross Ref]
O’Connor Karen, Muller Neff Deirdre, Pitman Steve. Burnout in mental health professionals: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and determinants. European Psychiatry. Vol. 53:74–99. 2018. Cambridge University Press (CUP). [Cross Ref]
Pillay Anthony L., Kramers-Olen Anne L., Kritzinger Anna Maria, Matshazi Vusi. Experiences of Clinical Psychologists Working in Public Health Service Facilities. Journal of Psychology in Africa. Vol. 22(4):663–666. 2012. Informa UK Limited. [Cross Ref]
Rauvola Rachel S., Vega Dulce M., Lavigne Kristi N.. Compassion Fatigue, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Vicarious Traumatization: a Qualitative Review and Research Agenda. Occupational Health Science. Vol. 3(3):297–336. 2019. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. [Cross Ref]
Schwartz Adam, Gerberich Susan Goodwin, Albin Thomas, Kim Hyun, Ryan Andrew D., Church Timothy R., Green Deirdre R., McGovern Patricia M., Erdman Arthur G., Arauz Rony F.. Janitors’ mental workload, psychosocial factors, physical fitness, and injury: The SWEEP study. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. Vol. 83:2021. Elsevier BV. [Cross Ref]
Singh Jasmeet, Karanika-Murray Maria, Baguley Thom, Hudson John. A Systematic Review of Job Demands and Resources Associated with Compassion Fatigue in Mental Health Professionals. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Vol. 17(19)2020. MDPI AG. [Cross Ref]

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Ceyda Başoğul. Views of Nursing Students Who Have Experienced Caring for Psychiatric Patients on Mental Illness and Stigma: A Phenomenological Study. International Archives of Nursing and Health Care. Vol. 7(2)2021. ClinMed International Library. [Cross Ref]

[2] Billote William Jo Se, Ponce Ryan. Issues and Challenges on the Mental Health Services of a Selected Municipality in Metro Manila: A Case Study. JPAIR Multidisciplinary Research. Vol. 39(1):66–81. 2020. Philippine Association of Institutions for Research, Inc. [Cross Ref]

[3] Busetto Loraine, Wick Wolfgang, Gumbinger Christoph. How to use and assess qualitative research methods. Neurological Research and Practice. Vol. 2(1)2020. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. [Cross Ref]

[4] Carmel Harold, Hunter Mel. Staff Injuries From Inpatient Violence. Psychiatric Services. Vol. 40(1):41–46. 1989. American Psychiatric Association Publishing. [Cross Ref]

[5] Cocker Fiona, Joss Nerida. Compassion Fatigue among Healthcare, Emergency and Community Service Workers: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Vol. 13(6)2016. MDPI AG. [Cross Ref]

[6] Groenewald Thomas. A Phenomenological Research Design Illustrated. International Journal of Qualitative Methods. Vol. 3(1):42–55. 2004. SAGE Publications. [Cross Ref]

[7] Hilton N. Zoe, Addison Sonja, Ham Elke, C. Rodrigues Nicole, Seto Michael C.. Workplace violence and risk factors for PTSD among psychiatric nurses: Systematic review and directions for future research and practice. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. Vol. 29(2):186–203. 2022. Wiley. [Cross Ref]

[8] Hu Wei Ming, Yin Xu Yuan, Yin Xiao Li, Zhu Zhen Hua, Guan Lu Yang, Hou Wen Long, Yin Guang Zhong, Jiang Cai Xia, Xu Xiao Wen, Gao Song Tian, Jia Qiu Fang, Hui Li. Prevalence, social-demographic and cognitive correlates of depression in Chinese psychiatric medical staff. Journal of Affective Disorders. Vol. 263:60–63. 2020. Elsevier BV. [Cross Ref]

[9] Johanna Zetterberg, Elin Visti, Mats Holmberg, Henrik Andersson, Jonas Aléx. Nurses’ experiences of encountering patients with mental illness in prehospital emergency care – a qualitative interview study. BMC Nursing. Vol. 21(1)2022. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. [Cross Ref]

[10] Bloch-Jorgensen Zephyr T., Cilione Patrick J., Yeung William W. H., Gatt Justine M.. Centeredness Theory: Understanding and Measuring Well-Being Across Core Life Domains. Frontiers in Psychology. Vol. 9:2018. Frontiers Media SA. [Cross Ref]

[11] Knapik Joseph, Ang Philip, Reynolds Katy, Jones Bruce. Physical Fitness, Age, and Injury Incidence in Infantry Soldiers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Vol. 35(6):598–603. 1993. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). [Cross Ref]

[12] Lally John, Tully John, Samaniego Rene. Mental health services in the Philippines. BJPsych International. Vol. 16(03):62–64. 2019. Royal College of Psychiatrists. [Cross Ref]

[13] O’Connor Karen, Muller Neff Deirdre, Pitman Steve. Burnout in mental health professionals: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and determinants. European Psychiatry. Vol. 53:74–99. 2018. Cambridge University Press (CUP). [Cross Ref]

[14] O’Connor Karen, Muller Neff Deirdre, Pitman Steve. Burnout in mental health professionals: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and determinants. European Psychiatry. Vol. 53:74–99. 2018. Cambridge University Press (CUP). [Cross Ref]

[15] Pillay Anthony L., Kramers-Olen Anne L., Kritzinger Anna Maria, Matshazi Vusi. Experiences of Clinical Psychologists Working in Public Health Service Facilities. Journal of Psychology in Africa. Vol. 22(4):663–666. 2012. Informa UK Limited. [Cross Ref]

[16] Rauvola Rachel S., Vega Dulce M., Lavigne Kristi N.. Compassion Fatigue, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Vicarious Traumatization: a Qualitative Review and Research Agenda. Occupational Health Science. Vol. 3(3):297–336. 2019. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. [Cross Ref]

[17] Schwartz Adam, Gerberich Susan Goodwin, Albin Thomas, Kim Hyun, Ryan Andrew D., Church Timothy R., Green Deirdre R., McGovern Patricia M., Erdman Arthur G., Arauz Rony F.. Janitors’ mental workload, psychosocial factors, physical fitness, and injury: The SWEEP study. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. Vol. 83:2021. Elsevier BV. [Cross Ref]

[18] Singh Jasmeet, Karanika-Murray Maria, Baguley Thom, Hudson John. A Systematic Review of Job Demands and Resources Associated with Compassion Fatigue in Mental Health Professionals. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Vol. 17(19)2020. MDPI AG. [Cross Ref]