DEPRESSION AND BURNOUT AT THE WORKPLACE

BY RUMBIDZAI MUNYIKWA
04/01/25

Depression is a condition in which you feel; sad, low, exhausted and lack interest in things which you usually enjoy. These feelings will persist for more than a few weeks. (1) According to WHO (2), ‘Globally, an estimated 12 billion working days are lost every year to depression’. According to the C+D Salary Survey as cited in Julie Cook (3), 26% of pharmacists, technicians and assistants suffered from depressions linked to work.

Job burnout results from poor management of work-related stress. It includes being worn out physically or emotionally where you may feel; useless, powerless and empty, drained, sad/angry/irritable and indifferent. You may struggle to cope, sleep, eat well and may drink/drink more alcohol. (4, 5) Burnout is not a medical diagnosis, it can lead to depression but at the same time depression can lead to a burnout. Burnout is common among pharmacists and pharmacy support staff worldwide. A systematic review across 8 countries showed that 51% of pharmacists experienced burnout. (5)

Some risk factors for burnout are;
-working long hours
-excessive workloads
-understaffing
-poor work/life balance
-too many administrative duties (which need to be juggled with dispensing, counseling patients, supervising pharmacy staff)
-reduced availability of locums for those who are not employed full time
To prevent as well as reduce the impact of burnout, pharmacy owners and pharmacists need to be aware of and address these factors to retain pharmacists and provide work environments supportive of pharmacists’ wellbeing. (2, 4, 5)

Long working hours for pharmacists in Zimbabwe include 10, 12 and 14 hours shifts. Hiring a locum helps pharmacists to achieve work-life balance whilst also providing income for the hired locum. Recently locums have not been as available as before. Many pharmacists are blaming economic hardships for this decrease. This means pharmacists are working for longer hours a day/week.
When a pharmacist was unhappy with their place of employment they would leave and locum whilst seeking for a better place of employment. Since locums are less available many are persevering in difficult work environments whilst seeking alternative employment. If you suddenly find yourself unemployed there is also stress which comes from not being able to get enough locums to sustain you. When you do find locums one gets tempted to work even when they are tired, to make up for days when locums are scarce.

Many retail pharmacies have one pharmacist working at any given operating time. This makes it difficult for most pharmacists in retail to take comprehensive breaks (including time to eat) since the pharmacy has to be under the continuous supervision of a pharmacist. It would be great if pharmacies could employ at least 2 pharmacists or have 2 pharmacists with who can share/split the shifts. Without upward reviews of current remunerations, earnings for pharmacists would significantly reduce by splitting shifts.

Impacts of depression and burnout;
-poor mental health
-reduction of quality of care
-medication errors and in serious cases -death of customers
-anxiety
-poor concentration,
-lack of focus
-costs to the employer: absence, staff turnover, recruitments
-costs to the pharmacist: loss of income from absence from work and costs of treatment/s
With work related depression you may need to take some time off from work to feel better but at the same time too much time away from work and major disruptions to your routine can worsen your depression. (4, 5)

How to prevent and relieve work depression and burnout;
-create flexible schedules to reduce working hours
-take short breaks whilst at work to relax
-talk to someone reliable and trustworthy
-reach for professional help-this is very important for depression
-take time off from work
-create comfortable workspaces for example comfortable chair/s, photos or decorative plants, wear comfortable shoes if your feet and back get sore from work
-eat a healthy diet, drink lots of water
-exercise
-sleep well
-use stress balls and relaxation exercises
-journal
-make time for family/fun/hobbies
-set realistic goals for work and personal financial goals
-save something every month so you can afford to take time off if tired or unwell and afford unforeseeable expenses including joblessness. (1, 2, 4)

References:

1. WebMD. What to know about depression and Work. [Internet]. 2023. [cited 2024 Dec 30]. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/depression/what-to-know-about-depression-and-work.
2. World Health Organization. Mental health at work. [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2024 Dec 30]. Available from: https://www.who.int//news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1Km7BhC9ARIsAFZfEIty6Wp-6eVCw6uwxE3y0gtCYGrDF2B14vAC5EYXipbkx3fo1M2Zr54aAiqjEALw_wcB.
3. Julie Cook/Community Pharmacy News, Analysis and CPD. Quarter of pharmacy workers suffered depression due to work over past year. [Internet] 2023. [cited 2024 Dec 29].
https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/CD136811/Quarter-of-pharmacy-workers-suffered-depression-due-to-work-over-past-year/.
4. Mayo Clinic. Job burnout: How to spot it and take action. [internet]. 2023. [cited 2024 Dec 29] Available from:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642#:~:text=Job%20burnout%20also%20may%20involve,raise%20the%20risk%20of%20depression.
5. Dee J, Dhuhaibawi N and Hayden JC. A systematic review and pooled prevalence of burnout in pharmacists. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy. 2022;45:1-7.