Background:

Research tells us that mental illness, stress, exhaustion and burnout have become more noticed among staff in psychiatry especially among staff in forensic psychiatry. Lack of knowledge, social support and motivation are some of the factors that affect staff in a negative way. Satisfaction and respect among colleagues are things that instead brings joy and strength at work.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to examine the personal strategies professionals in forensic psychiatry uses to promote and preserve their well-being.

Method:

A qualitative approach was chosen and six professionals were interviewed with semi-structured interviews. The transcribed texts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results:

The results of the interviews resulted in three themes: the experience of security and confidence at work, the art of seeing a difficulty as a challenge and well-being of different dimensions. The themes in turn resulted in six subthemes: security and confidence, sense of security, the network's importance to the well-being, self-motivation and personal strategies, meaningfulness in work and leisure and well-being factors characterized by.

Conclusion:

Personal strategies professionals in forensic psychiatry uses are the strategies that come with the experience. Colleagues, leadership, work environment, life outside work are some of the important factors that professionals feel provides energy to work in the best possible way. Family and friends are important for the professionals well-being and at work the security and confidence to the colleagues are important.