Mental health and work: a survey of Brazilian literature in Biblioteca Virtual da Saúde (BVS) databases

Abstract

This paper is a review of national literature regarding the relationship between mental health and work. Papers referring to this subject, published in the databases INDEXPsi, PePSIC and PSICODOC, in the period from 2008 to 2012, have been searched out. The descriptors “mental health” and “work” were used for the search that was carried out in the Brazilian Virtual Health Library (BVS - Bibioteca Virtual de Saúde). The 33 selected papers were distributed as follows in the databases: 12 from INDEXPsi, 8 from PePSIC and 13 from PSICODOC. The data of the publications were organized according to the most frequent issues, and were the following: the role of psychology and related knowledge within the field of Work-related Mental Health; work organization; ways of coping with suffering, risk factors and protection; suffering and illness. From the analysis of the texts, the authors point out that, with regard to the role of psychology as a tool of intervention, there seems to be a division between the performances of clinical psychologists and organizational psychologists, lacking integration between the differing approaches. Regarding factors that contribute to suffering / illness related to work, it turns out that aspects of work organization or management, lack of recognition, unattainable productivity goals, or jobs that result in isolation of the worker may have adverse effects on workers.