Symposium on Gender and the Mental Health of Women Health Care Workers November 20, 2008 by Cathy Walker, former Director CAW Health & Safety Department

Health The highest state of physical, mental and social well-being WHO, ILO It’s not just the absence of infirmity or disease

The highest state of physical, mental and social well-being

WHO, ILO

It’s not just the absence of infirmity or disease

Do health care workplaces make women sick?

We have to acknowledge and validate women health care workers concerns, not say You’re not sick, it’s all in your head And if you are sick, it’s not work-related

You’re not sick, it’s all in your head

And if you are sick, it’s not work-related

How may hospitals and nursing homes give rise to women health care workers mental health problems?

And how does what happens (or doesn’t happen) in the home, affect women health care workers?

First and foremost of course is: Do you have a job? And, if you have a job, is it secure?

First and foremost of course is:

Do you have a job?

And, if you have a job, is it secure?

These key employment issues for health care workers are: Privatization Contracting out If a relatively well paid woman health care worker is facing possible job loss, there is no question that mental health problems result And these are intensified of course if the job is in fact lost

Privatization

Contracting out

If a relatively well paid woman health care worker is facing possible job loss, there is no question that mental health problems result

And these are intensified of course if the job is in fact lost

Understaffing and work intensification Inadequate funding to the public health care sector leads to understaffing For-profit private health care leads to understaffing Women care givers are particularly caring They want to provide excellent care but they can’t Understaffing leads to mental health problems

Inadequate funding to the public health care sector leads to understaffing

For-profit private health care leads to understaffing

Women care givers are particularly caring

They want to provide excellent care but they can’t

Understaffing leads to mental health problems

Nature of the work leads to mental health problems: anxiety about: Patient violence, racism, sexism Infectious diseases, from TB to AIDS Occupational cancer – breast cancer among night nurses; cancers from drugs Back injuries and RSIs Chronic pain

Patient violence, racism, sexism

Infectious diseases, from TB to AIDS

Occupational cancer – breast cancer among night nurses; cancers from drugs

Back injuries and RSIs

Chronic pain

Can you even get into the building safely?

Shiftwork Disruption of circadian rhythm Disruption of family life

Disruption of circadian rhythm

Disruption of family life

Concern about child care Women still bear the major burden of child care Without a proper, publicly funded child care system, women health care workers face so many problems

Women still bear the major burden of child care

Without a proper, publicly funded child care system, women health care workers face so many problems

When you’ve got the time….

While you’re at work, your kids need good quality, affordable care

How can we improve her mental health?

Actions to take to promote mental health among women health care workers Protect workers’ health and safety

Protect workers’ health and safety

Actions to take to promote mental health among women health care workers Resist privatization of the health care system and indeed, bring more health care (long term care facilities, home care) within the public system so that there is job security for health care workers. Since the majority of these more economically vulnerable health care jobs are performed by women workers, this is of particular interest to them.

Resist privatization of the health care system and indeed, bring more health care (long term care facilities, home care) within the public system so that there is job security for health care workers. Since the majority of these more economically vulnerable health care jobs are performed by women workers, this is of particular interest to them.

Actions to take to promote mental health among women health care workers Provide successorship rights so that when contracts for the provision of services within the health care system come up for bid or renewal, the workers' jobs are secured. Again, it is usually women workers who are most at risk of losing their jobs from initial contracting out or at contract renewal time.

Provide successorship rights so that when contracts for the provision of services within the health care system come up for bid or renewal, the workers' jobs are secured. Again, it is usually women workers who are most at risk of losing their jobs from initial contracting out or at contract renewal time.

Actions to take to promote mental health among women health care workers Provide universal, publicly funded child care . Balancing work and family responsibilities for women workers is so important, and so difficult for health care workers who work so many unsocial shifts.

Provide universal, publicly funded child care . Balancing work and family responsibilities for women workers is so important, and so difficult for health care workers who work so many unsocial shifts.

We have many challenges, but we also have many opportunities for positive change Thanks very much