Objective: To analyze the association between illness and occupational risks among mental health workers. Methods: An epidemiological cross-sectional study was conducted with 163 professionals who were members of a multidisciplinary mental health team at a psychiatric hospital, split into two groups: those who had and those who had not taken medical leaves of absence. Data were collected using a questionnaire examining the studied variables and by accessing records of medical leaves of absence. Results: The identified occupational risks were primarily exposure to bacteria and virus (87.12%), tobacco smoke (82.82%), noise (81.60%), adopting inadequate body posture due to ergonomic inadequacies (72.39%) and stress (71.17%). Approximately 64.42% of workers became ill during the period of the study and 270 diagnoses were recorded. Conclusion: More than half of the mental health workers presented health problems, however, only a small portion of their diagnoses was included on the list of occupational diseases. There were statistically significant associations among the variables illness, chemical risk and psychosocial risk.
ResumoObjetivo: Analisar a associação entre o adoecimento de trabalhadores em saúde mental e os riscos ocupacionais. Métodos: Estudo epidemiológico, transversal, realizado com 163 profissionais da equipe multidisciplinar de saúde mental atuante em um hospital psiquiátrico, divididos em dois grupos: com e sem licença saúde. O instrumento de pesquisa foi um questionário com as variáveis de estudo e os registros de licenças saúde. Resultados: Os riscos ocupacionais identificados foram principalmente; exposição a bactérias e vírus (87,12%), tabaco (82,82%), ruídos (81,60%), indução a adoção de postura corporal inadequada devido a inadequações ergonômicas (72,39%) e ao estresse (71,17%). Cerca de 64,42% dos trabalhadores adoeceram no período de estudo sendo registrados 270 diagnósticos. Conclusão: Mais da metade dos trabalhadores de saúde apresentam problemas de saúde, no entanto, pequena parte dos diagnósticos registrados consta da lista de doença ocupacional. Houve associação estatisticamente significativa entre a variável adoecimento e risco químico e risco psicossocial.