The services will be financed by the Superior Council of the Judiciary and aim to reduce stress and the risk of burnout among judges.
The Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM) announced the creation of a holistic health program aimed at supporting judges in combating professional stress and emotional exhaustion. The service, which includes therapies such as psychology, yoga, massages and meditation, will be available free of charge from the next quarter.
According to the CSM, the program is part of the recently created Occupational Health Office (GSO), with the aim of promoting a healthier work environment. Consultations can be carried out in person or via videoconference, covering the entire national territory. The estimated cost of the initiative is 20 thousand eurosplus VAT, fully supported by the CSM budget.
The program comes as a response to a study by the Center for Social Studies at the University of Coimbra, which revealed worrying data about the well-being of Portuguese judges. According to the study, 36.2% of magistrates face a medium-high risk of burnout, while 16.7% are at high risk.
Holistic health is highlighted by the CSM as a strategy to mitigate the risks identified in the study and strengthen the resilience of judgesimproving your physical and mental health, writes .
The new service integrates a broader CSM approach, which includes the creation of the Health Office to promote more dignified working conditions. The body’s total budget for 2024, of 163.2 million euroscovers areas such as infrastructure, training and health and safety programs.
The holistic health program is just one of the CSM’s initiatives under the leadership of João Cura Mariano, who assumed the presidency five months ago. Within the scope of budget management, the contracting, for R$729 thousand, of travel and accommodation services until 2026 also stands out.
