Re:Ask HN: How to support someone with burnout syndrome?
by brudgers on Monday December 05, 2016 @10:13AM
(#13105789)
My first advice is to avoid the temptation to practice pop psychology. Burnout is not a recognized clinical diagnosis in the DSM {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_burnout}. The pop-psychology of is a way of perpetuating the stigma associated with accurate clinical diagnosis for a mental health condition.
My second piece of advice follows from that. There my be clinical issues and those may best be addressed by a professional clinician such as a licensed psychologist, mental health councilor, or clinical social worker.[1] A role you can play is to normalize and destigmatize the idea of professional mental health treatment. Ask the people you know if they can recommend a clinician for your friend.
Yes, "I have a friend who might need a professional mental health clinician, do you know anyone?" has a certain "No, really it's a friend" connotation. Accepting that people may reach the wrong conclusion is part of being able to destigmatize and normalize mental health treatment.
Good luck.
[1]: I don't have anything against Psychiatrists. It's more a matter of access to Psychiatrists is limited and [in the US] typically done via referral from a councilor or MD general practitioner for the purpose of prescription based on an existing diagnosis. Which reminds me that your friend might also address their burnout with their regular doctor and likewise, your regular doctor might be a source of referral for licensed clinicians for your friend.
My second piece of advice follows from that. There my be clinical issues and those may best be addressed by a professional clinician such as a licensed psychologist, mental health councilor, or clinical social worker.[1] A role you can play is to normalize and destigmatize the idea of professional mental health treatment. Ask the people you know if they can recommend a clinician for your friend.
Yes, "I have a friend who might need a professional mental health clinician, do you know anyone?" has a certain "No, really it's a friend" connotation. Accepting that people may reach the wrong conclusion is part of being able to destigmatize and normalize mental health treatment.
Good luck.
[1]: I don't have anything against Psychiatrists. It's more a matter of access to Psychiatrists is limited and [in the US] typically done via referral from a councilor or MD general practitioner for the purpose of prescription based on an existing diagnosis. Which reminds me that your friend might also address their burnout with their regular doctor and likewise, your regular doctor might be a source of referral for licensed clinicians for your friend.