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Occupational Burnout: What Is It And Who Is At Risk? | The Doctor Weighs In
By: Jori Hamilton
The WHO has announced that it will be developing evidence-based guidelines on mental health in the workplace. This is a recognition of the importance and pervasiveness of workplace stress.
You leave work feeling exhausted day after day. You hope that it’s just a phase. But the longer you wait for it to pass, the higher your stress levels seem to rise. Then, you notice a mental disengagement with your work. You even begin feeling and expressing an overwhelming sense of negativity directly related to it. Even worse, you question your ability to do the job and make a difference in the workplace. Does this sound familiar?
If so, you’re not alone. This list of symptoms even has a name. It’s called burnout. It also has an International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code, although it is not considered a medical condition. Rather it is considered to be an “occupational phenomenon” that impacts health.
The WHO has announced that it will be developing evidence-based guidelines on mental health in the workplace. This is a recognition of the importance and pervasiveness of workplace stress. It also points out the failure of employers to address the systemic problems in their work places.
