Question

Select a global health issue impacting the international health community. Briefly describe the global health issue and its impact on the larger health care system (i.e., continents, regions, countries, states, and health departments). How can health care delivery systems work collaboratively to address global health concerns?Who are some of the stakeholders that may work on these issues?

Answer 1

STRESS is becoming a health epidemic of 21st century (WHO )and also is going to cost American businesses up to $300 billion a year. Stress has a debilitating effect on our emotional and physical health.Stress is negatively impacting the work productivity.It is said that every year the percentage of individuals affected by work stress are increasing in an alarming number. Increased rate of stress in work leads to increased rates of heart attack, hypertension, obesity, addiction, anxiety, depression and other disorders.

One-fourth to one-third of U.S. workers report high levels of stress at work. Americans spend 8% more time on the job than they did 20 years ago (47 hours per week on average), and 13% also work a second job. Two-fifths (40%) of workers say that their jobs are very stressful, and more than one-fourth (26%) say they are "often burned out or stressed" by their work.(www.cdc.gov).

Stress brings about problems in home and work. Stress at work poses a threat to organisation and workers.There is a great impact on health due to stress. Stress is a major precursor for cardiac problems and stroke in the present day.Stress results from a mismatch between demands and pressures on a person and also with knowledge and ability. Health is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity but a positive state of complete physical,mental and social well being (WHO 1986),a healthy working environment is one in which there is not only an absence of harmful conditions but an abundance of health promotion.

Strict and inflexible work schedules, long hours of work, meaningless and monotonous tasks, badly structured shifts, Job insecurity ,unsupportive supervision, poor leadership and communication are some of the problems faced by people in work place all over the world.

It makes people irritable and arrogant. Work stress contribute to poorer outcomes in physical and mental health. Mental health is very important for an individual to sustain in the community and nation. Stress is a risk factors for Diabetes, hypertension, myocardial infarction, behavioural problems, drug abuse and alcohol dependence. It also affect the immune system.

Stress is a challenge to health and safety of workers and to the healthiness of organisations.When the organisations have more absentism of employees and loss of productivity , leading to decreased quality . Suicidal ideas, cancer, psychological and musculoskeletal disorders also caused by longterm stress.

STRESS being a bigger issue which has efficiency to affect the national income and productivity percentage , as most of the population is devastated by the effects.

• Work-related stress is a real problem that can negatively impact health and safety.
• Identifying stressful aspects of work can help in devising strategies for reducing or eliminating workplace stress. Some strategies include: clearly defining worker roles and responsibilities, improving communication, and making sure workers participate in decisions about their jobs.

Global health challenges require collaboration and coordination with a wide variety of stakeholders and partners .

The stakeholders are ministries of health,The World Health Organization and other international organizations,non governmental organisations, business organisations, academic institutions, other government agencies , insurance companies .

Thus stress is becoming a global issue affecting the whole population( adults, children and older people) in world level.