In May 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged that burnout is far more serious and present today. It has been classified as an occupational phenomenon (International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), but not as a medical condition. This handbook provides useful guidelines for medical professionals when making a diagnosis. Signs of burnout include a sense of failure, shame, and self-doubt, feelings of being trapped and defeated, detachment from others, lacking motivation, and an increase in cynical and negative thinking. All these signs are directly linked to work! The broader and more descriptive definition now lends weight to the gravity of burnout and helps us recognize the signs.
Attention is often focused on medical professionals today. Increasing strain on our health care system is putting tremendous pressure on these front-line workers. Corvid-19 has only exacerbated workplace conditions. If this isn’t enough, the nightly news features one heartbreaking segment after another with interviews of exhausted staff.
Non-medical professionals are voicing their concerns too. Many WFH professionals speak of impossible workloads, isolation ,and exhaustion while working from home. And let us not forget the essential blue- collar workers managing deliveries, mail, grocery stores, trash, etc.
The WHO has a broader mission than leading partners in global health response to Corvid-19. I must admit, like many other people, I was not very familiar with it and its mission until last year. I’m glad more attention is focused on burnout. In the United States, some have taken “working to death” literally. Workers aren’t just a little tired or in need of a vacation day or two.
I’m calling attention to the WHO in my first post, simply because more attention needs to be given to how we work, our boundaries, and our rights.
Live&Work 4healthyu 