Causes and Prevention of Burnout in Human Services
Shanah Magee BSHS 461 4/8/2013 Dr. Edward Armstrong

People working in the helping field are subject to conditions that can lead to depletion or even impairment, such as the emotionally intense nature of the helping relationship and increasingly heavy caseloads. Burnout is a serious issue in human services. According to Johnson and Stone (1987), burnout “refers to a state of physical, in emotionally demanding situations” (p. 67). Factors that contribute to burnout and methods used to prevent burnout will be discussed in this paper. Individual, cultural, organizational, supervisory, and social support factors can lead to burnout. Some factors that correlate with burnout within an individual include overload, insufficient compensation, and lack of recognition. A heavy workload can be tiring and often causes an individual to work longer hours than he or she would like. This can lead to an individual feeling “out of control” because most time is being spent working instead of resting or doing things that give life value. Cultural factors can lead to burnout as well. Lewis, Packard, and Lewis (2007) stated, “Aspects of the culture at large, including a declining feeling of community, frustrated expectations for the self-actualizing potential of work, and pervasive competition, create a climate conducive to burnout” (p. 134). An organizations leadership can play a factor in contributing or preventing burnout. If a person is feeling unappreciated, or unfairly treated, this can put them at risk for burnout. According to Lewis, Packard, and Lewis (2007), Lack of participative decision making increases the likelihood of burnout.
Burn out is something that happens gradually and can get worse as time goes on. Early symptoms of burnout may include feeling tired and drained all the time, constant headaches and muscle pain, loss of motivation, and decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment. It is important to address job burnout to avoid health consequences such as excessive stress, fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety, alcohol or substance abuse, heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, obesity, vulnerability to illnesses or a negative spillover into personal relationships and home life. Neglecting self-care can have negative effects on the body, mind, and spirit, leaving us depleted and out of balance. For this reason, it is important to have self-care strategies that address each of these parts of us. Organizations also need to support self-care for staff in order to prevent burnout.
As a human service worker, it is imperative to learn stress management skills and self-care. An individual can prevent burnout by developing healthy eating, sleeping, and exercising habits. Doing this can give a person the energy and strength needed to deal with life’s everyday stressors. Also, setting boundaries is important. It is important not to overextend one’s self and learning to say “no” in order to allow yourself the opportunity to say “yes” to things you really want to do. According to "Helpguide.org" (n.d.), “Actively address problems. Take a proactive rather than a passive approach to issues in your workplace, including stress at work. You’ll feel less helpless if you assert yourself and express your needs. If you don’t have the authority or resources to solve the problem, talk to a superior.” Also, if experiencing job burnout, speak with a supervisor and clarify your job description. Make note of things you’re expected to do that is not listed in your job description which may allow leverage to show work being done outside the parameters of the job. If burnout seems inevitable, take time off. Utilize sick days, vacation days, or take a leave of absence in order to recharge and gain perspective.
After much thought about my personal reaction to stress, I feel I respond fairly well. Working at Kaiser Permanente hospital in the Hospice department I tend to deal with high stress situations regularly. Because I answer phones, I am the first person patients are making contact with when their family member is in distress, dying, or dead. Initially having never worked in hospice care, it was difficult for me to deal with because everything seemed to be an emergency. As time went on I learned to assess situations, remain calm, and respond accordingly during stressful encounters. My job provides employees with 40 hours of “life balance” days which can be used as needed so I make sure to utilize those free days in addition to taking vacation time in order to avoid burnout. Self-care is vital to professional and personal sustainability in hospice care. Kaiser Permanente also has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which offers free confidential service to employees that may need help dealing with work or personal stress, emotional or psychological concerns, and alcohol abuse among other things.
In conclusion, self-care and avoiding burnout is important in any profession. Because people often have so many responsibilities going on, self-care is forgotten. Taking time to care for one’s self can remind us that our needs are important as well. Taking care of your body mentally, physically, and emotionally can make you feel good about yourself and life. Doing so can contribute to long term feelings of well-being.