Current job satisfaction among mental health professionals in Australia

Abstract

Mental health professionals are subject to the same types of job/related stress as are other workers. This report contrasts the perceived stress levels of three groups of mental health professionals: clinical and counselling psychologists and social workers. An anonymous mail survey of 400 members of each group resulted in a response rate of 34%. The results indicated that social workers were significantly less ssatisfied with their job, experienced more work-related stress, and were more likely to be seeking alternative employment than were either group of psychologists. Further analysis suggested the importance of work setting in that a higher proportion of psychologists were self-employed than was the case for social workers, who largely worked within the public sector. The results highlight the imiportance of organisational factors contributing to the stress of mental health workers.