Say “L, Yeah” to the World Health Organization’s Growing Recognition of Burnout
by Erlene Grise-Owens, Ed.D., LCSW, MSW, MRE, lead co-editor of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals
Have you heard the news? It’s official. Burnout is real! Recent headlines announced that the World Health Organization (WHO) declared burnout is an “occupational phenomenon.”
WHO predicts a global pandemic of burnout in the next ten years, unless intervention is swift and serious. Already, WHO estimates that burnout costs the global economy more than $300 billion annually. This quantitative cost is embedded in qualitative costs of low morale, toxic environments, growing turnover, and compromised services.
The prevalence of burnout isn’t news to social workers and other helping professionals. Because of the nature of our jobs and other factors, burnout is particularly serious in our sector. With WHO’s growing recognition of the dire consequences of burnout, we can say, “L, yeah!”
Here are 4 “L” implications of this recognition by WHO, the international entity that pursues well-being as a basic human right. And (news flash!), social workers are human beings; thus, our well-being is a human right!
Legitimacy
WHO’s identification of burnout as a serious issue provides important legitimacy. Thus, attention to addressing burnout becomes more crucial. In micro-mezzo-macro-and-meta dimensions, self-care is validated. As individuals, teams, organizations, and as a profession, social work is further compelled to recognize and address burnout, through multi-dimensional approaches.
Leverage
This reinforced legitimacy gives us important leverage. As Arianna Huffington asserts, we can address burnout more effectively when we call it what it is!
Previous blog posts identified key ways to promote self-care in multi-dimensional ways. WHO’s validation of the seriousness of burnout provides important leverage for pursuing these commitments. For example, informing organizational leadership of WHO’s validation of the phenomenon of burnout is an entry to promoting organizational wellness initiatives. WHO’s validation adds clout to advocating that professional organizations (e.g., National Association of Social Workers and Council on Social Work Education) more effectively promote self-care as professional practice.
We need to be prepared, however, for backlash. (Huffington’s article has an example.) The self-care movement is hindered by persistent myths and misunderstandings that diminish self-care. Likewise, we’ll see efforts to minimize burnout.
Leadership
Leveraging the growing legitimacy of burnout and the need for attention to self-care, amidst persistent backlash, requires leadership. Certainly, we need more leaders at the helm who prioritize self-care and organizational wellness. At the same time, the self-care movement requires Brene Brown’s (2018) definition of leader: “Anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential” (p. 4).
Regardless of position, you can lead in addressing burnout. This leadership may begin with having the courage to find the potential in yourself to develop a self-care commitment. This commitment may extend to developing that potential in your team, broader organization, or profession.
Love
Finally, and foremost, validation of burnout as a real, prevalent, and serious phenomenon gives permission to practice prevention through self-care, a.k.a. loving ourselves. I hope this blog space helps you legitimately leverage leadership in our shared self-care movement. Mostly, I hope this space helps you love yourself.
Peace, Love, and Self-Care,
Erlene
Reference
Brown, B. (2018). Dare to lead—Brave work. Tough conversations. Whole hearts. New York, NY: Random House.
Dr. Erlene Grise-Owens, Ed.D., LCSW, MSW, MRE, is a Partner in The Wellness Group, ETC. This LLC provides evaluation, training, and consultation for organizational wellness and practitioner well-being. Dr. Grise-Owens is lead editor of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals. As a former faculty member and graduate program director, she and a small (but mighty!) group of colleagues implemented an initiative to promote self-care as part of the social work education curriculum. Previously, she served in clinical and administrative roles. She has experience with navigating toxicity and dysfunction, up-close and personal! Likewise, as an educator, she saw students enter the field and quickly burn out. As a dedicated social worker, she believes the well-being of practitioners is a matter of social justice and human rights. Thus, she is on a mission to promote self-care and wellness!