STRESS AND BURNOUT IN THE MILITARY POLICE CONTEXT

Abstract

In Brazil, the country's organization and progress depend heavily on the fundamental aspect of security, which is mainly ensured by civil and military police officers. These courageous individuals, along with their families, face daily risks and face violence, oppression and numerous stress-inducing factors, including the constant fear of death. The demanding nature of a police officer's job and the repetitive nature of their work environment can contribute to the emergence of burnout syndrome among these individuals. The research provided evidence of this, with statistics indicating that 91.7% of police officers always or sometimes experience stress, 88.3% feel emotionally exhausted at the end of the day, 62.5% perceive themselves as exhibiting aggression in the workplace. work and 20.8% have had suicidal thoughts (OLIVEIRA; SANTOS, 2010). As stated by the Ministry of Health (BRASIL, 2018), the presence of stressors in the professional environment has the potential to induce the development of psychosomatic illnesses, along with other signs and manifestations of behavioral imbalances. The condition known as Burnout Syndrome (BS) is the result of the harmful impact of stressors on the physical and psychological well-being of individuals in their work environment. According to Oliveira and Santos (2010), common symptoms include increased heart rate, muscle tension, sweaty and cold hands, a feeling of knots and stomach pain, raised shoulders and a constant state of alert. Police officers, for example, often find themselves in a routine where stress is a recurring factor, even outside of working hours. This is due to the fact that regardless of whether they are off duty, not wearing a uniform or away from their workplace, they are still recognized as police officers. Consequently, they are constantly on guard, leading to excessive exposure to stress factors that differentiate them as one of the groups most affected by stress among all employees. Therefore, it is essential to recognize that the individuals responsible for ensuring the safety of citizens, which is the focal point of this investigation, also need attention and assessment of their own health conditions. This is because personal well-being is not only significant, but also directly impacts the daily lives of police officers and society as a whole.