Psychosocial Risks and Mental Health in Working Life

In modern working life, psychosocial risks as well as physical risks have become one of the important factors affecting the health and well-being of employees. Psychosocial risks refers to negative situations caused by social and psychological conditions at work, such as work stress, mobbing, working hours, workload, insufficient social support. These risks can have serious effects on the mental and physical health of employees and negatively affect work productivity.

Psychosocial Risks and Their Types

1. Work Stress:
   Decription: It is caused by the imbalance between the requirements of the job and the employee's capacity to respond to these requirements.
   Effects: It can lead to mental problems such as depression, burnout syndrome, anxiety, as well as physical health problems such as high blood pressure and heart conditions.
2. Mobbing (Psychological Harassment at Work):
   Definition: These are hostile behaviors that are systematically applied to the employee, such as intimidation or exclusion.
   Effects: It can cause employee's loss of motivation, lack of self-confidence and mental disorders in the long term.
3. Working Hours and Workload:
   Long working hours, an unstable work-life relationship and excessive workload cause both mental and physical fatigue.
   Problems such as burnout syndrome and sleep disorders are frequently encountered in employees.
4. Insufficient Social Support:
   The lack of support provided by managers or colleagues leads to a feeling of loneliness and loss of motivation in employees.
5. Career Uncertainty and Job Insecurity:
   Uncertainties about the future increase the anxiety level of employees and this negatively affects job performance.

Effects on Mental Health

Psychosocial risks have direct and indirect effects on the mental health of individuals:

• Anxiety and Depression: Psychosocial stressors can cause the development of common mental disorders in employees.
• Burnout Syndrome: People who work under constant stress experience a decrease in energy, mental exhaustion and emotional insensitivity.
• Motivation and Job Satisfaction: Psychosocial risks prevent employees from being satisfied with their jobs and reduce overall motivation.

Solution and Preventive Approaches

1. Corporate Strategies:
   Psychosocial Risk Assessment: It is necessary to identify the existing risks at work and monitor them regularly.
   Support Mechanisms: Psychological counseling and stress management trainings should be offered to employees.
   Positive Work Environment: It is important to establish open communication and an inclusive culture at work.
2. The Role of Managers:
   It is important that managers are sensitive to the needs of employees and adopt a fair management approach.
   Providing social support and appreciating the contributions of employees increases psychological well-being.
3. The Contribution of the Employees:
   Employees should identify their own mental health needs and develop strategies for coping with stress.
   Regular physical activity, a healthy lifestyle and the use of social support mechanisms can increase mental endurance.
4. Legal Regulations:
   It should be encouraged to address psychosocial risks in national and international occupational health and safety standards.
   The responsibilities of employers should be clearly defined in order to protect employee rights.

Psychosocial risks in working life pose an important health and productivity problem for employers and employees. Managing and preventing these risks at work not only protects the mental and physical health of employees, but also increases motivation and productivity at work. The fact that institutions take conscious steps on this issue and develop comprehensive policies contributes to the creation of a sustainable occupational health and safety culture.