Stress and intervention strategies in mental health professionals

There is growing evidence to show that mental health professionals by the n ature of their work are particularly vulnerable to stress with all its detr imental effects on service delivery and quality of care. This comes at a ri me when mental health services in many countries are under considerable str ain. The present paper examines the multifaceted stressors encountered by t he mental health team and recommends possible ways of reducing burnout thro ugh innovative intervention strategies. The detection of emotional distress and psychological dysfunctioning in mental health providers is outlined an d their management carefully considered.