Practitioner burnout and managing mental health

Burnout is something we can all be at risk of experiencing, and therefore it is important we are aware of the signs, so we can both prevent and manage it productively. It is also important that we are able to notice the signs in those around us.  

In our profession we want a strong healthy team to be able to serve our patients to the very best of our ability, which means looking after our mental and physical wellbeing.  

Burnout was included in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) and is recognised by the World Health Organisation as an occupational phenomenon.¹ It is not a medical or mental health condition but has been classified as a syndrome. However, burnout can be a cause in developing mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.