Have you noticed any generational differences in how people cope with stress?



Dr. Paula Henry a Family Physician and Public Health Practitioner from Trinidad and Tobago, with a passion for global health. She attended the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona, Jamaica, and graduated in 1980, earning her MBBS degree. She also holds a Diploma in Theology from Codrington College, Barbados, an MBA from the University of Edinburgh, a Diploma in Political Science from University of London, School of Economics, and an MPH from UWI St Augustine. Dr. Henry is currently the lead for the WONCA Working Party for Women and Family Medicine (WWPWFM), and the Caribbean Lead WONCA Working Party in Planetary Health. As a director of EarthMedic and EarthNurse Foundation for Planetary Health, she works with other Public Health institutions to underscore that the climate crisis is a health crisis. This is achieved through heightened awareness, education, advocacy and research.  Dr. Henry shares  her perspectives on what mental resilience means to a family physician, below.

Question: Have you noticed any generational differences in how people cope with stress?

AGE PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN HOW PEOPLE MANAGE STRESS.

Expectations were different

Graduating as a doctor in 1980, stress was seen as a normal part of life. The expectation was to ‘toughen up’ and get the job done, while maintaining professionalism. Life was different then, being born a decade after World War II, in a colonial era where poverty, malnutrition, food shortages and infectious diseases like polio, measles and chicken pox were a part of life, as vaccines for such childhood diseases were still being developed. There was limited technology and medical resources to diagnose even severe diseases. Resource maximization was an imperative. One kept focused on the task, while plating the Chocolate Agar disc to diagnose TB, because the microbiology lab was closed for the day, or retrieving a patient’s medical file from the hospital’s filing room at midnight. Continuity of care meant working for 24 hours on-call and 8 hours the following day. There was no doubt that resilience emanated from one’s prayer life, in addition to the use of stress relievers like exercise and meditation. Social and community support were the norm and living in extended family circles where grandparents played an active part, was an assured safety net.  Professional women with children often had live-in domestic help.

Redefining self from the perspective of Human Rights

The Human Rights Act of 1998 came into full force in the UK, in 2000. It allowed persons to bring claims related to breaches of their human rights. It is no doubt that this had a trickle-down effect, which gave rise to the expectation of entitlement.

Life for the younger generation is centered around digital platforms and technology.  This has led to even more challenges for physicians who can now receive personal and professional information real-time with the click of a button. Technology is great. On one hand it makes life simpler, however it increases complexity and uncertainties, both of which challenge one’s mental capacity. Indeed, the challenges of exponential technology coupled with the enforcement of one’s human rights brings with it, an even deeper level of mental health distress.  It is not surprising therefore, that in this era, structured programs were developed as coping mechanisms to reduce stress. Self-care programs, training to ensure work-life balance and mitigation against burnout are normative for the younger generation of doctors, to cope with the daily stressors of life.

Collegiality and Building Relationships

This is a universal principle that was well-developed in the older population of doctors. The older generation viewed the elders in the fraternity as mentors, both within the work-environment and social circles outside. There were open lines of communication, so that concerns could be voiced and heard without fear of judgement or victimization. This created a culture of psychological safety and support. The self-esteemed engendered served as a potent stress reliever. One benefited from the medical care of peers free of charge. Strong horizontal relationships bred trust. These were bi-directional. Attending dinner at the home of the consultant on the team, was just as important as me sitting at the bedside of an older colleague, just hours before her departure from life.

The younger generation builds social relationships often through social media platforms like Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter. These communication channels can be socially challenging from user vulnerability to personal attacks.

There is nothing comparable to building vertical relationships, through communication with a Higher Power. I refer to this as the ultimate stress reliever.

 Online and Self Care modules

The concept of self-care grew in popularity in the 1950’s with the civil rights movement. Online and Self-care modules however only gained prominence when e-technology formats were introduced. Covid 19 has augmented mental health challenges worldwide, including the CARICOM region.  In a paper recently published in the Lancet, (Quinta Seon et al January 2023), reference was made to pre and post-pandemic mental health challenges with overburdened systems. Despite the strengthening of online and self-care modules, there were no clear structured guidelines for the way forward. Since there is still an urgent need for targeted interventions demonstrating efficiency, it is worthwhile for both the younger and older generations to collaborate for a sustainable solution.

In conclusion

The exponential use of information technology, digital platforms and the threat of epidemics and pandemics with increasing mental health challenges, has intensified stress management programs. Successful stress management involves the balance of traditional methods with the newer structured programs. For maximum utility however it must be rooted in self-discipline.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Building Mental Resilience - How can healthcare systems better support doctors in maintaining their mental well-being?

WORLD FAMILY DOCTOR DAY 2025 - MENTAL WELLNESS