The conference ”When work gets too much”In Oslo on 18 and 19 March, the official launch of the institute’s digital courses in Norway will take place.”.

Many disciplines deal with occupational psychology

Work has begun in several places across Norway. A basic course in stress psychology is currently being trialled in Stavanger in schools and within the fields of substance abuse treatment and psychiatry. In Trondheim, the local authority is trialling the approach in three nurseries and amongst staff working with adults with visual, hearing and other disabilities. And so far, the results are promising:

”We have found that the basic course gives staff and management a good understanding of the risk factors and protective factors involved in emotionally demanding work. Experience to date suggests that the course leads to increased self-efficacy – that is, greater confidence in the organisation’s ability to prevent and manage emotional stress at work,” according to the Health and Safety Unit at Trondheim City Council.

Blue flashing lights and stress

At Haukeland, ambulance staff have taken steps to prevent mental strain.

”As ambulance workers, we experience emotional impacts on every shift. Some of these impacts linger longer than others and become a real burden. Especially if we can put ourselves in the patient’s shoes and get a sense that – it could have been me,” says Søren Rømer, who is assistant head of section in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Haukeland University Hospital.

He explains his choice of the Department of Occupational Psychology:

”We lacked a concrete and well-thought-out concept that articulated the challenges of having a job that can at times be mentally demanding, whilst also providing us with some practical tools to take active steps to address it. The most important people we meet in our daily lives are our patients. We can provide them with the best treatment and care if we are in a state of mental balance.”

The Prevention Centre is being built in Norway

The rest of the courses in THE PREVENTION HOUSE We’ll be launching it before the summer, and there’s a lot of interest. You can keep up to date and find out more on our new Norwegian website, which you are welcome to share with your Norwegian friends and colleagues.