In the first quarter of 2024, according to INAIL data, there was a 17.9 percent increase in reports of occupational diseases related to mental and behavioral disorders compared to the same period in 2023. This increase is attributed to factors such as difficulties in balancing personal and work life, lack of professional growth, excessive workloads, hostile environment, and bullying. If not addressed, these issues can lead to stress, psychological disorders and burnout syndrome.
Data collected by Unobravo (an online therapy site) show a 109.7 percent increase in people experiencing psychological distress at work in the first four months of 2024 compared to 2023. In Lazio, on a regional basis, the demand for work-related psychological support accounts for 10.6 percent of the national total. The metropolitan city of Rome is one of the areas with the highest number of requests for help, with 8.2 percent of total requests coming from there. It is in fact second in Italy, after Milan, followed by Turin.
The majority of requests for psychological support come from women (66.3%) and people in the first stage of their working careers, aged between 25 and 34. Work stress manifests itself with symptoms such as physical and mental fatigue, demotivation, and a sense of inadequacy. Causes include relationship problems with colleagues and superiors, workload, poor communication, and bullying. In the absence of intervention, stress can evolve into burnout syndrome.
What is burnout?
Burnout is defined by psychological symptoms (such as irritability and decreased motivation), physical symptoms (such as headaches and gastrointestinal disorders) and nonspecific symptoms (such as apathy and sleep disturbances). The condition develops in four stages: enthusiasm, stagnation, frustration and disengagement. Recognizing these stages is crucial to intervening and preventing burnout, often with the help of psychologists or psychotherapists, Unobravo says.