Increasing numbers being seen for stress related issues- Dr June Samuel
This is according to Chief of Medical Staff of the BVI Health Services Authority and Psychiatrist, Dr June Samuel who was giving remarks at the Commemoration of World Day for Safety and Health at Work at Breezeway, Central Administration Complex on April 28, 2016.
Dr Samuel also said that a survey done by an insurance company in the US found that problems at work are more strongly associated with health complaints than any other life stressors. It was also found that stress is more associated with increased error and injuries at work.
Noting that she has a vested interest in the subject of work related stress since she is also a practising psychiatrist, Dr Samuel said “we do what we see more and more and we now know that a lot of what we see is related to what is happening in the work place.”
It was noted that about 90% of persons in the VI have some association with a workplace and that they spend about 30% to 50% of their time working.
“There is positive stress and there is negative stress, so when we are talking about job related stress causing health defects and injuries we are talking about chronic negative stress. Chronic negative stress is linked to a number of chronic medical illnesses,” Dr Samuel said.
It was told to the persons in attendance that science has found that prolonged exposure to chronic negative stress leads to chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, sleep disturbances, memory loss and other memory diseases, upset stomach, low morale, various recurring body pains, psychological disorders, cancer, impaired immune function and the diseases associated and stomach ulcers.
It should be noted that the leading cause of death in the VI are heart disease and cancer, which can be both linked to stress.
No one exempted from stress!
Health and Safety Coordinator, Dawn U. Leonard said since the average working age person spends approximately eight (8) hours per day at least five days per week at work, it is quite fitting that the International Labour Organisation on April 28, 2016, celebrated World Day for Safety and Health at Work under the theme 'Workplace stress- A collective challenge'.
“Stress has been noted to be a challenge globally and so I am happy that ILO is bringing focus to it on a global level, and so we are participating in the commemoration of the day to help bring focus to public officers about the importance of stress management so they can improve their productivity and wellbeing in general,” said Mrs Leonard.
The Health and Safety Coordinator noted that the VI has been commemorating the day for some eight years now.
“No one is exempted from experiencing stress and as Dr Samuel said she is seeing more and more patients that are experiencing stress and stress that is related to their work so it is important that we bring attention to the issue and help public officers understand how they can reduce stress and thereby increase productivity and their overall wellbeing.”
Also giving remarks was Senior Labour Inspector Mr Kenton Callwood.
The activities targeted public officers and saw exhibition booths from Save the Seed Energy Centre, Allure Day Spa, Peter Island Spa, Amara Spa, Therapy Works and National Health Insurance among others.
The initiative was a collaborative effort between the Department of Human Resources and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
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12 Responses to “Increasing numbers being seen for stress related issues- Dr June Samuel”
@what the hell i seeing here? What you expect with the TT Minister and the baldhead one. The boys stress too but they are possibly being threatened. You know how vicious this NDP white-collar gang could be.
Building.