Stress at workplace is on the increase

Staff Reporter THE number of workers affected by stress in the workplace or “burn out”, threatens to increase in the medium term. Symptoms of the condition include suffering from anxiety, bouts of depression or abuse of alcohol, tabacco and tranquilisers. The warning was given yesterday by psychiatrist Eduardo García Camba during a National Psychiatry Convention in Palma. He pointed out that “burn out” develops into emotional exhaustion, anxiety, frustration and isolation. Camba explained that having too great a workload, certain social factors and accumulated exposure to pressure can unleash this condition. He added that certain personality traits determine the level to which those at risk fall prey to the syndrome. Most vulnerable are individuals who show signs of stress when faced with threatening workplace scenarios, while motivation and ambition can act as protection. He pointed out that bosses “have a very important role to play in terms of providing emotional leadership”.