Ironically enough, almost half of psychology practitioners don’t seek help when they feel intense stress, even though 18 percent reported they had suicidal ideation during stressful times, according to results of an APA survey on practitioner worries released on Friday.
APA conducted the survey to assess the need for colleague-assistance programs. Although such programs sprung up nationwide during the 1980s, today only 30 state, provincial or territorial psychological associations have one. Several programs were dismantled after a lack of use.
The top five stressors identified by the survey were:
- Trying to achieve work/life balance (cited by 72 percent of respondants).
- Dealing with insurance and managed care (68 percent).
- Concerns about their patients' safety (63 percent).
- Family issues (61 percent).
- Burnout and compassion fatigue (59 percent).
When asked if they were currently experiencing stress, 51 percent of participants said yes. When asked if they told anyone about their stress, 43 percent said no.
“Many psychologists are experiencing stress, and possibly signs of impairment, and they are not seeking assistance when they need it most,” said Daniel I. Galper, PhD, of APA’s Practice Directorate. “We need to better understand this and what contributes to it if we are going to be able to support-colleague assistance programs.”
When asked how they cope, only 6 percent said they contacted a colleague-assistance program.
The survey was sent to 5,000 practitioners, most of whom provide direct psychological services. APA got a response rate of 16 percent to 17 percent. A more complete report on the survey results will appear in the October APA Monitor.
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