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‘My Work Matters’: A Qualitative Exploration of Why Staff Love Working in Acute Mental Health

Author

Listed:
  • Rachel Mair

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand)

  • Susanna Every-Palmer

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand)

  • Fiona Mathieson

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand)

  • Gabrielle Jenkin

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand)

Abstract

Research findings and media coverage of staff experiences of working in mental health settings tend to focus on the negative aspects of the work such as burnout and stress. These negative aspects affect job satisfaction. Job satisfaction can be understood through the lense of Self-Determination theory, which emphasises the importance of autonomy, competence and relatedness (connection) in job satisfaction. This article reports on staff views on positive aspects of working in acute mental health care, drawing on qualitative interview data collected for a larger study of the social and architectural environment of mental health inpatient facilities in New Zealand. Forty-two inpatient mental health staff participated in semi-structured interviews about their experiences of working in such facilities, sharing the positive aspects of working in this setting, including ‘what they liked most’. Responses were thematically analysed using the Framework Method to identify and organise key themes that were refined iteratively, checking for agreement between researchers. Four key themes were identified: work that matters; the people; the physical and social environment and the extrinsic rewards/personal benefits. The results provide an alternative framing of working in acute mental health settings compared, with commonly reported research findings and media coverage focusing on staff burnout and stress in these settings. Despite the much-documented challenges of working in this often poorly resourced and stigmatized area of health, most participants spoke warmly and enthusiastically about what they did, with frequent use of the word ‘love’ in relation to their work. This was largely because they found the work and social relationships rewarding and they were able to make an important contribution to the wellbeing of mental health service users.

Suggested Citation

  • Rachel Mair & Susanna Every-Palmer & Fiona Mathieson & Gabrielle Jenkin, 2022. "‘My Work Matters’: A Qualitative Exploration of Why Staff Love Working in Acute Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-12, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13619-:d:948453
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gabrielle L. S. Jenkin & Jacqueline McIntosh & Susanna Every-Palmer, 2021. "Fit for What Purpose? Exploring Bicultural Frameworks for the Architectural Design of Acute Mental Health Facilities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-20, February.
    2. R. Paul Battaglio & Nicola Belle & Paola Cantarelli, 2022. "Self-determination theory goes public: experimental evidence on the causal relationship between psychological needs and job satisfaction," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(9), pages 1411-1428, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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