With sports against burnout

Improved prevention of mental illness

06/07/2012

According to the Professional Association of German Psychologists (BDP), mental illnesses in the workplace can be averted at an early stage with corresponding preventive measures. For example, sport helps to significantly reduce the risk of burnout.

Whether jogging, swimming, basketball, yoga or tai chi - physical exercise helps to cope with stress. In this way, the sport also protect against burnout, said Ulrich Schübel, board member of the BDP section of Business Psychology, in Berlin. In the interests of employee health, employers should set a good example here, as this often spurs employees on more than well-intentioned appeals, according to the expert from the news agency dpa..

Occupational health management for the prevention of diseases
The president of the professional association of German psychologists, Sabine Siegl, explained that many mental illnesses "can be caught already in the beginning" and "by great and lasting prevention measures much suffering and costs prevent" let. Sport is also one of the appropriate preventive measures, as the experts say it helps to deal with stress and thus protects against burnout. In addition, according to the BDP communication, occupational health management plays an essential role in the prevention of mental illness. In the course of health management "psychologists focus not only on the individual but also on the organizational structures", whereby the "corporate culture, which becomes visible in the transparency of processes, in decision-making, fair pay and opportunities for participation", is a key factor the BDP.

Sport helps to deal with stress
In terms of the health effects of sport - in addition to the strengthening effect on the cardiovascular system and the reduction of possibly existing overweight - for the psychologists, especially the management of work stress is a positive aspect to emphasize. Which sport the employees pursue, is only secondary in this context. Everyone should use the variation of the physical exercise, which he enjoys, explained Ulrich Schübel. "One may walk in the woods, the next one can do yoga, and another helps to swim," the expert said. Important for a successful burnout prevention is that the leaders lead by example. This applies not only to the physical fitness, but also for the weekly working hours, the remuneration and the issue of accessibility. If in doubt, "psychologists can help to develop tailor-made concepts, which then have a lasting effect," said Schübel.

Responsibility of managers in the prevention of mental illness
In addition to the important role model function, the executives also have a responsibility in terms of motivation of the employees, according to BDP. For example, employees should be expressly praised for their good performance, since recognition is a way to demonstrably reduce the stress on employees, explained Ulrich Schübel. According to the expert, many mental strains on workers are due to what psychologists call the gratification crisis. These meet especially employees, who show a high commitment in their own opinion, but receive little recognition for this. This was associated with unnecessary stress, which could easily be turned off with a praise of the supervisor, Schübel continues. According to the economic psychologist, it is all about a sustainable change process towards healthy operation.

Mental illness is a growing problem
The importance of appropriate occupational prevention measures against mental illness is also evident from the figures in the BDP press release "How to Prevent Burnout - Mental Health in the Workplace". Accordingly, the proportion of mental illness in all sick leave is now at "12.5 percent, absenteeism averages 30 days, and also the relative proportion of mental diagnoses in ever-earlier beratungen has increased significantly." Mental illnesses form the professional association of German psychologists According to today almost 40 percent of Frühberentungsgründe. An expansion of preventive measures seems therefore urgently needed. (Fp)

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