Staffhappiness and work satisfaction in a tertiary psychiatric centre

Background: Mental health professionals are at a high risk of burnout. Positive psychology outcomes of staffin acute in-patient psychiatric wards are poorly researched and unclear. Aims: To quantify the satisfaction with life and work-life satisfaction of mental health staffat a large university-affiliated tertiary psychiatric centre. Methods: We utilized the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Work-Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (WLSQ). Results: Two hundred and nine out of 450 staffmembers (46%) participated; mean age 48.2 + 9.9 years; 63% were male. On average the participants had been practising their speciality for 21.1 + 9.8 years (range: 2-48). The mean total SWLS scores differed significantly between professions (P < 0.05). The highest levels of happiness were reported by psychologists and social workers, followed by the administrative staff, the psychiatrists and finally the nursing staff. Staffscored the highest for work as a 'calling' followed by work as a 'career' and the lowest rating for work as a 'job'. The mean total WLSQ score differed between professions, (P < 0.01). The highest levels of work as a calling were reported by psychiatrists (mean 2.87 of possible 5.0), followed by psychologists and social workers, nursing staffand finally administrative staff. Conclusions: Satisfaction with life and work orientation do not correlate among mental health professionals. Although highly motivated and perceiving psychiatry as a 'calling' psychiatrists score low on levels of satisfaction with life. Improving staffhappiness may contribute to increase in moral and counter burnout.