Detailed Support Program for Coworkers
Several support programs have been put in place to help those facing mental health issues. Many clients and coworkers in our workplaces may have some mental health and addiction issues, such as feeling stressed by their work, while others might have histories of trauma (Etingen et al., 2020). Therefore, this study explores the most harmful consequences of stress individuals may face at work. Furthermore, it will delve into giving specific interventions that can help deal with these negative consequences in their work and build their resiliency.
Stress is any change in the surrounding that requires our body to react and adjust in response. In other words, it is a normal reaction in our body that result in intellectual and emotional response. The human body is designed so that it experiences stress and reacts to it since it is a normal human reaction that happens to everyone. Stress can have negative consequences, which can lead to diverse health problems such as mental, emotional, social, and physical illness (Lee, Wickrama, Lee & O’Neal, 2021). Stress can have a material impact on our bodies as it can cause the nervous system to release hormones that trigger the production of white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting the infection together with other disease-fighting elements. Stress thus leads to chronic stimulation of the immune system, which leads to suppression of the overall body system, and in the end, it becomes less effective such that it cannot ward off diseases and infections.
Therefore, it is safe to argue that stressed individuals are highly capable of succumbing to colds and infections and stand high chances of herpes breakouts. Lee et al. (2021) say that stress can have detrimental impacts on the immune system, and in some cases, it can cause the preexisting conditions to worsen. One of the negative consequences of stress is that it tempers the digestive system. Stress can also induce physical changes in that it can make them have increased appetite, making individuals gain weight and potentially become obese. People dealing with obesity are often at the risk of suffering from health problems such as diabetes, arthritis, strokes, and heart diseases. On the contrary, stress can also make people lose their appetite, causing them to lose too much weight.
There are several interventions that people can apply to deal with the negative consequences of work and also build their resilience. The existence of negativity in the workplace affects the employee’s morale more insidiously than anything else. It can be expressed as something that diverts the employees’ critical attention from work and performance by sapping their organization’s energy. Therefore, such negative consequences need to be dealt with earlier in advance before they result in more harm to an organization. The first intervention in dealing with the adverse effects of work is by diagnosing the workplace negativity. Negativity is often an increasing menace in the workplace, resulting from loss of control, community, or confidence. Therefore, the first step toward solving this problem is pointing out what negativism exist in an organization.
Consequently, several other ways can help minimize workplace negativity, but the most effective way is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. The first step is by encouraging workers to have control over their job. People can gain power by providing them an opportunity to make decisions and have influence and control over their job (Agarwal et al., 2021). The second step is to give workers a chance to express their opinions and use consistent, fair treatment. Additionally, both workers and managers should employ the culture of learning and provide career transition support. Employees should create a learning culture to take up the new challenges and develop leadership skills since their employers cannot guarantee job security (Agarwal et al., 2021). Gaining such functional and leadership skills will prepare them for future success with them or their next employer.
Consequently, employees also need to build their resilience to deal with the negative consequences of work. Strength gives a road map for adapting to life-changing situations and strategies for emerging even better than before, albeit we all face adversity, trauma, and other types of stress (Webster & Neal, 2021). Resilience provides one with the ability to deal with life’s turns and twists. One way of building our strength is by prioritizing our relationships, as this helps us connect with other people and understand that we are not alone amid difficulties (Webster & Neal, 2021). Moreover, we are encouraged to join groups such as faith-based communities, civic groups, and other local organizations that can help us reclaim our hope.
Critical Principles of Harm Reduction and Strategies/Responses
Harm reduction is a practical set of strategies to alleviate the negative consequences associated with drug and substance use. Also, it can be defined as a system of justice that offers respect, a method of social justice built on a belief, and contains the rights of the people who use drugs (Goodridge et al., 2021). One of the critical principles of harm reduction is fully accepting that there is illicit and licit use of drugs in almost all parts of the world. For better or worse, we can only choose to minimize its harmful effects instead of condemning or ignoring them. Goodridge et al. (2021) postulate another principle of ensuring that while creating programs and policies that help serve those who use drugs and those with a history of drugs, we include them in the creation program. As a principle of harm reduction, we should also recognize the fact that the realities of poverty, past trauma, class, social isolation, and sex-based discrimination are issues that affect people’s vulnerability and their ability to deal with drug-related harm effectively.
References
Agarwal, M., van der Pol, C. B., Patlas, M. N., Udare, A., Chung, A. D., & Rubino, J. (2021). Optimizing the radiologist work environment: Actionable tips to improve workplace satisfaction and efficiency and minimize burnout. La radiologia medica, 126(10), 1255-1257.
Etingen, B., Martinez, R. N., Smith, B. M., Hogan, T. P., Miller, L., Saban, K. L., … & Weaver, F. M. (2020). Developing an animal-assisted support program for healthcare employees. BMC health services research, 20(1), 1-9.
Goodridge, D., Roger, K. S., Walsh, C. A., PausJenssen, E., Cewick, M., & Liepert, C. (2021). Service providers’ use of harm reduction approaches in working with older adults experiencing abuse: a qualitative study. BMC geriatrics, 21(1), 1-9.
Lee, S., Wickrama, K. K., Lee, T. K., & O’Neal, C. W. (2021). Long‐term physical health consequences of financial and marital stress in middle‐aged couples. Journal of Marriage and Family, 83(4), 1212-1226.
Webster, P., & Neal, K. (2021). Building resilience for the future. Journal of Public Health, 43(3), 435-436.
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