Depressive Symptoms Among Nurses in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care : A Descriptive Literature Review
Joshi, Ashish; Pokhrel, Manju (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025120332095
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025120332095
Tiivistelmä
Mental health and substance abuse nurses are exposed different kind of emotional, ethical and environmental working environment. These nurses are more vulnerable to depressive symptoms. The aim of this descriptive literature review is identifying (1) the cause and effects of depressive symptoms of nurse working in mental and substance abuse environment and 2) strategies that minimizes these symptoms.
A comprehensive search of five databases and grey literature was conducted, guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework and the PICOS model. Thematic induction content analysis was used to screened, appraised and synthesized the selected articles.
The review highlights three themes. The first workplace and organizational stressors that includes patients’ aggressions, burden workload, moral distress and under-staffing considering major contribution to depressive symptoms. Secondly, there stress produced from professional and psychological effects are emotional exhaustion, anxiety, burnout and intention to quit profession. The third theme was interventions from both individual and organizational level to reduce effects of depressive symptoms
The review concludes the depressive symptoms in mental health nurses arise from systemic workplace factors rather than personal shortcomings. Therefore, multilevel interventions are required to protect this vulnerable workforce. The programs such as integrating psychological support, improving staffing, active and strong leadership and workforce violence preventing polices. Similarly reforming organizational structure helps to reduce depressive symptoms among nurses working in mental health and substance abuse setting.
A comprehensive search of five databases and grey literature was conducted, guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework and the PICOS model. Thematic induction content analysis was used to screened, appraised and synthesized the selected articles.
The review highlights three themes. The first workplace and organizational stressors that includes patients’ aggressions, burden workload, moral distress and under-staffing considering major contribution to depressive symptoms. Secondly, there stress produced from professional and psychological effects are emotional exhaustion, anxiety, burnout and intention to quit profession. The third theme was interventions from both individual and organizational level to reduce effects of depressive symptoms
The review concludes the depressive symptoms in mental health nurses arise from systemic workplace factors rather than personal shortcomings. Therefore, multilevel interventions are required to protect this vulnerable workforce. The programs such as integrating psychological support, improving staffing, active and strong leadership and workforce violence preventing polices. Similarly reforming organizational structure helps to reduce depressive symptoms among nurses working in mental health and substance abuse setting.