Local politicians’ perspectives on mental health literacy in their political and social work environment

BackgroundMental health literacy is important for local politicians working in socially demanding roles. Given the high prevalence of mental health problems and rising sick leave, they must engage with these issues in an informed and reflective way, particularly in elder care, a field characterised by public scrutiny, emotional strain, and frequent criticism.ObjectiveTo examine how local politicians responsible for elder care conceptualise mental health literacy and how they relate it to their own social work environment.MethodsThis qualitative content analysis study draws on 41 interviews with local politicians responsible for elder care across Sweden, representing a range of political parties, geographical contexts, and political roles.ResultsThe analysis resulted in two categories: Navigating mental health in a politicised work role, and Psychosocial pressures within a hostile political work environment The findings show that politicians work under demanding conditions characterised by high workload, public scrutiny, and the risk of threats and harassment from both citizens and political colleagues. Despite these challenges, the results reveal limited mental health literacy regarding their own psychosocial risks and work environment.ConclusionThis study highlights how the socially demanding work environment of local politicians shapes their understanding of mental health and contributes to psychosocial strain. The findings underscore the need for greater awareness, organisational support, and preventive measures to promote sustainable and healthy political work environments.