Introduction

A high number of diseases is reported by healthcare professionals as a result of frequent exposure to biological, physical and mental loads. Among healthcare workers, nurse professionals are the workforce group that gets most affected as they are highly exposed and vulnerable to the development of health conditions, especially mental illnesses and behavioural disorders.

Objective

This study aims to describe the reasons for temporary absence from work due to mental illness and behavioural disorders in nurse professionals.

Materials and Methods

Cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted using data from an Occupational Safety & Health Service database in a University Hospital in Teresina, Piauí.

Results

Depressive episodes were responsible for most of the temporary absences from work (29 cases representing 24.1%), most predominant in women (100 cases representing 90.5%), especially within the 31-40 age group (64 cases representing 57.7%). In terms of the professional categories, the nursing assistant category was noteworthy (79 cases representing 68.1%). The hospital care department was responsible for the largest number of temporary absences from work due to mental illnesses and behavioural disorders (36 cases representing 31.3%).

Discussion

Factors triggering depression in workers might be related to excessive work overload, exhaustive shifts and high psychological load.

Conclusions

Strategies for healthcare promotion, a better structure for work conditions and appropriate attention to the mental health of these workers are important measures that can help reduce the number of absences from work.

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