In a note published by the Sapiens Institute Think Tank, Dr Marie-Victoire Chopin examines the psychological suffering of caregivers, which notably leads to prevented work*. His analysis demonstrates that the exhaustion of health professionals is not only a consequence of the health crisis, but the result of deep structural dysfunctions, combining loss of meaning, administrative overload and organizational rigidities. To remedy this situation, the study recommends a radical transformation of hospital management and a freeing of speech, affirming that patient safety and the effectiveness of the public service now directly depend on the psychological well-being of those who provide care.
The report by Dr Marie-Victoire Chopin underlines that the mental health of caregivers now constitutes “a major determinant of the safety and sustainability of the health system” French. By going beyond a simple cyclical reading linked to recent crises, his study demonstrates that professional unhappiness is the product of long-standing structural tensions, marked by an increase in demands for care in the face of institutional frameworks and often rigid work standards. The document thus calls for a profound transformation of organizational cultures to break the taboo of vulnerability within medical collectives, affirming that the quality of care and the continuity of public service directly depend on the capacity of institutions to preserve the psychological balance of those who provide care.
The mental health of caregivers, a condition of possibility of the healthcare system
The analysis highlights clearly identifiable structural determinants. “The intensification of work, the desynchronization of life times linked to atypical schedules and unpredictability, the lack of room for maneuver in highly hierarchical organizations, as well as the inflation of administrative and digital tasks, contribute to a progressive deterioration of the meaning of work and to lasting psychological weakening« . In addition to these factors “powerful cultural mechanisms, such as omerta, the implicit valorization of bravery and the difficulty in expressing vulnerability, which delay the request for help and promote trajectories of rupture”.
“Moreover, the life trajectories of professionals – parenthood, domestic responsibilities, caregiving situations – can no longer be considered as variables external to the functioning of care organizations. In a context of atypical hours and staff shortages, they constitute direct determinants of career sustainability, absenteeism and loyalty, with differentiated effects according to gender and age. Taking them into account is part of a rational approach to human resources management, and not an incidental or socially peripheral register.,
Create a virtuous circle ?
For the author, there are numerous levers that could improve working conditions and retain caregivers. “The recommendations formulated favor combined action on the organization of work, primary prevention, psychological safety, managerial training, digital doctrine and the consideration of life trajectories, backed by precise monitoring indicators and clearly identified governance. Without this structural reorganization effort, she warns, the health system will not be able to face the challenges of the future. “ Their coherence is based on a central principle: the mental health of caregivers constitutes a condition of possibility of the healthcare system, and not a distinct or secondary objective.. In the absence of a structured change, the risk is that of a self-perpetuating dynamic associating absenteeism, overload, early departures and progressive deterioration of the quality and safety of care, with an increasing human, organizational and financial cost.
*Work that we cannot do.
To find out more:
• The mental health of caregivers, a strategic determinant of the quality and continuity of care, Sapiens Institute.