Burnout among mental health care providers

Abstract

• Summary: The new mental health care delivery system in the USA strives to provide efficient quality care at a lower cost. This cost-effective approach and focus on short-term treatment modalities and measurable outcomes has created new challenges especially for those who work with clients with severe mental illness. This study explores the relationships between workplace conditions, role stress, burnout, and intent to quit. The direct and indirect effects of role stress on emotional exhaustion and emotional exhaustion on intent to quit are illuminated in order to better understand the complex process of becoming stressed and disillusioned with one’s work.

• Findings: The results support the author’s expectations that role stress mediates the association between workplace variables and emotional exhaustion; and that emotional exhaustion mediates the association between role stress and intent to quit.

• Applications: These results indicate that agencies and social work schools need to prepare students and new workers for the realistic aspects of mental health work, and provide them with the necessary skills required in order to balance the financial and the clinical aspects of mental health work. Supervisory support, peer support groups, and in-service training should also be considered as important interventions that can reduce workers burnout and its negative consequences.