The service, launched in 2010, may not be well-known but it is certainly more in demand. Created by the Chamber of Employees and the Mental Health League, the 'Stressberodung' service allows working people to benefit from free advice and support from psychologists when in distress.
The sessions are held at the Chamber of Employees and are accessible to everyone employed in Luxembourg. An individual may benefit from five sessions. The sessions are also available to staff delegates who wish to receive support in strengthening prevention at their place of work. "The meetings can be held in Luxembourgish, French, German, English, Portuguese and even Spanish", explained David Büchel, work psychologist at the Chamber of Employees.
While the reasons for seeking help may vary, employees are often confronted with issues directly related to their workplace and jobs. Work overload, issues with their colleagues, and feelings of injustice are regularly identified as key reasons leading to employees' mental health issues, the psychologist confirmed.
The 'Stressberodung' team recommends talking about the problem as a first step. "The priority is communication", said psychologist Emilie Senez. "But what complicates the matter in companies is the fact that some employees are too afraid to speak up for fear of consequences. So they keep it to themselves. As we know very well, the longer you keep a problem to yourself, the worse it gets over time. So my first piece of advice is to talk."
Colleagues, supervisors, a staff delegate, human resources or even the work doctor are potential points of contact. This can help affected employees to answer multiple simple questions, such as: what is happening? How long has it been going on? What are the consequences?
In the Chamber of Employees' recent 'quality of work' report, the CSL noted a historic decline in work quality, reaching the lowest levels in 12 years. The study shows that working under pressure and harassment are constants in Luxembourgish workplaces, while physical demands, difficulties in changing jobs, and emotional demands of employment are on the rise. Signs point to a workplace becoming "more and more demanding for employees," warned the CSL.
Alongside psychological problems, other ailments may physically affect the employee. "In consultations, we hear about all manner of complaints. Physically, we might see tension, back pain or headaches, gastric issues, tachycardia", explained Nelson Lopes, psychologist with the Mental Health League.
"At an emotional level, people can face anxiety, sleep issues, or in more serious cases, social withdrawal or feelings of worthlessness... People also complain about no longer being able to concentrate like they did before." Some people may also question their workload, their health, or their workplace's values, at certain points during their career.
As Luxembourg has such a highly developed service sector, people working in this area make up a large proportion of the 'Stressberodung's' patients. But every sector has its own ailments. "Sectors which demand more physical effort will see an accumulation of physical stress, while service sectors, such as administrative jobs, teaching, healthcare, the exposure to emotional stress is more important", said Lopes.
