Socioecological dynamic models of mental health: Pandemic crisis burden among professions of critical importance for the society

The project Socioecological Dynamic Models of Mental Health: Pandemic Crisis Burden among Professions of Critical Importance for the Society systematically analyses the social-ecological context of mental health of employees in critical professions (health care, military, police) in Slovenia and Austria in times of complex crisis, considering risk and protective factors at the individual, micro, meso and macro levels. Employees in critical professions are at high risk of mental health disorders such as stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, as they have to be the first to react to a crisis and deal with it immediately, usually with significant time constraints to react and adapt to the situation. Their response has an impact on the overall response of society and the state. The Covid-19 pandemic is an example of the most recent complex crisis that has affected societies in different spheres of social life. In both countries, a research gap has been identified in addressing the mental health of workers in professions of critical importance. A multidimensional view of risks in critical professions is needed to improve their future preparedness and support their resilience, as they are a pillar of society in any crisis. We will observe the socio-ecological context for the current and long-term mental health of employees in critical professions to develop and test a model of the factors that influence their mental health outcomes (stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder) in a crisis (pandemic).

The project activities are carried out in parallel in Slovenia and Austria. Data collection will therefore take place in both countries. To achieve the main objectives, the following will be carried out:

1) We will assess the mental health of employees in critical professions (first responders) during complex crises. In addition, we will use a social-ecological model to identify risk and protective factors for the mental health of employees in critical professions during complex crises.

2. We will consider the relevance of structurally based gender inequalities that still exist today in society and in the observed masculinized and feminized organisations (military, police and healthcare) in the context of the mental health of employees in critical professions in times of complex crises. Gender will be used as an analytical category in combination with other macro-, meso-, micro- and individual factors within the framework of the social-ecological model. We will develop and test a socio-ecological model with factors affecting mental health (i.e. stress, burnout, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression) among employees in critical professions.

Project leader: izr. prof. dr. Janja Vuga Beršnak, Fakulteta za družbene vede Univerze v Ljubljani

At the Peace Institute: Živa Humer and Franja Arlič.