The Other Side of the Ward: Stress among Non-Clinical Staff in Psychiatry

Background: Non-clinical personnel are essential to the functioning of psychiatric institutions but are often excluded from mental health research. While healthcare professionals are widely studied for occupational stress and psychological distress, non-clinical staff may be similarly exposed to institutional stressors without adequate attention. Aims: Assess the prevalence of perceived occupational stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and insomnia among non-clinical staff in a psychiatric hospital setting, and to examine their associations with sociodemographic characteristics, occupational factors, and attitudes toward mental health. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2025 among 46 non-clinical staff at Ar-Razi Psychiatric Hospital (Rabat, Morocco). Participants completed a questionnaire including sociodemographic and occupational data, psychiatric history, and standardized psychometric scales measuring stress, anxiety-depression, insomnia, and mental health attitudes. Results: High perceived stress was reported by 54.3% of participants. Clinically significant anxiety and depressive symptoms were present in 30.4%, while no cases of clinical insomnia were identified. Perceived stress was strongly correlated with anxiety-depressive symptoms and moderately with insomnia severity. Female gender was associated with higher stress and anxiety levels. No associations were found with exposure to aggression, education level, or attitudes toward mental illness. Underreporting of psychiatric history and substance use may reflect stigma. Conclusion: Non-clinical staff in psychiatric settings report considerable psychological distress, particularly among women. These findings highlight the importance of inclusive mental health strategies that extend beyond clinical roles and call for further research into institutional and cultural stressors affecting this overlooked workforce.