Introduction to Physician Well-being & Burnout-View Presentation

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Video Summary

The virtual event "Burnout to Balance: A Psychiatrist’s Toolkit for Wellbeing," led by Dr. Lorenzo Norris, addresses physician burnout—a widespread, complex issue in mental healthcare, especially psychiatry. Burnout is defined as an occupational phenomenon characterized by emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced personal accomplishment, distinct from medical conditions like depression, though significant overlap exists. Well-being is multifaceted, requiring active pursuit and intentional choices beyond merely the absence of burnout or disease, focusing on purpose, engagement, and joyful relationships.<br /><br />The speaker highlights the prevalence of burnout in psychiatry across career stages and settings, impacting job satisfaction and professional functioning, and stresses the importance of recognizing co-occurring depression. Organizational factors largely drive burnout, necessitating system-level interventions alongside promoting individual resilience, though resilience alone is insufficient.<br /><br />Various models from organizations like the U.S. Surgeon General and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health provide frameworks to address burnout through leadership, worker engagement, and support systems. Dr. Norris shares experience from the George Washington University’s Resiliency and Wellbeing Center, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and regular measurement of well-being outcomes.<br /><br />Ultimately, addressing burnout requires active organizational involvement and collaboration, recognizing the complex interplay of personal and systemic factors, with a call to integrate comprehensive strategies for recovery, resilience, and systemic change in psychiatric practice.

Keywords

physician burnout

psychiatry

well-being

emotional exhaustion

depression overlap

organizational factors

resilience

system-level interventions

interdisciplinary approaches