Mental health and working conditions

During the years of "real socialism," the relationship between mental health and working conditions was never researched or analysed. The incidence and prevalence of mental health disorders, particularly of depression, stress reactions, attempted suicide, even alcoholism and drug abuse, were not publicised, and were not linked to working conditions. Analyses focused on issues such as how productivity and discipline at work are affected by alcoholism, and not how working conditions contribute to alcohol abuse. No programmes were designed to prevent or monitor the relationship between working conditions and the development of mental health problems among workers.

Since 1989, there have been some changes. The Central Statistical Office in Warsaw conducts comprehensive surveys concerning health status and the situation of people with disabilities in Poland. Assessments of health status and disability are based on specific physical and mental health indicators and their impact on an individual's working capacity. Mental illness and mental health disorders are included in the broad category of chronic somatic diseases. They are related to the occupational activity of the disabled and to their needs. Relevant data are presented in two reports: Occupational activity and health in 1996 and Health status and needs of the disabled in Poland in 1996, prepared by the Central Statistical Office in Warsaw.⁹

Next year, a research programme will be launched to analyse the effects of reforms implemented in Poland, including psychological response to the ongoing changes. The survey will include a national representative sample. It will cover psychological responses such as depressive symptoms, anxiety, and life satisfaction. Variables under study will relate to factors such as respondents' living conditions, their experiences with job change, job loss, and the need to acquire new skills through vocational training. Tools for the survey have been developed. A report based on the survey is also expected to cover factors detrimental to mental health. Although funding is limited, it is proposed to conduct this survey on a yearly basis.

Though studies on the relationship between stressful working conditions and workers' health status have been sporadic, Poland does have a history of research into mental health in the workplace. The first studies on job satisfaction and identification of workplace stressors were undertaken at the initiative of trade unions 35 years ago, first in the engineering industry and then in the iron and steel industries. In the early 1980s, the University of Warsaw conducted research on job and life satisfaction, and a team from the Polish Academy of Sciences has done a study on mental and physical work efficiency.¹⁰ More recently, research on these issues has been conducted at the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lódz.

The first of two studies undertaken by the Institute¹¹ covered 2570 workers employed in 47 jobs in 168 workplaces, none of which had violated occupational health standards. The main health risks were psychosocial, involving job factors which cause employees to become irritated, nervous, and stressed. These include work overload, physical danger, role conflict,