Washington, DC — Recent data show that two out of five psychiatrists and nearly half (46%) of the total healthcare workforce are affected by burnout. Burnout is generally defined as a psychological syndrome and occupational phenomenon from chronic workplace stress that may result in exhaustion, cynicism and detachment from work, and reduced professional efficacy.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has been focused on the issue for many years, and is continuing the work on July 15 with Burnout to Balance: A Psychiatrist’s Toolkit for Well-Being, a full-day virtual event designed to address this pressing issue. The event includes targeted sessions on key areas such as graduate medical education, early-career stressors, and system-level interventions that promote sustainable well-being in psychiatric practice.

In addition, this year, APA produced a factsheet on Physician Wellness: Burnout and Depression, a free resource covering the basics of what burnout is, the warning signs, the difference between depression and burnout, and important interventions. Download the factsheet here.

“Burnout remains a pervasive issue facing the psychiatric workforce,” said APA President Theresa Miskimen Rivera, M.D. “But there are many interventions that can help, at the individual level and the systemic level. Our goal is to promote healthy workplaces in which everyone can thrive and find joy in what they do.”

“Psychiatrists are uniquely positioned to address professional burnout within psychiatry and across the entire house of medicine,” said APA CEO and Medical Director Marketa M. Wills, M.D., M.B.A. “It is great to see APA’s member-led Committee on Wellbeing and Burnout bringing their expertise and these resources to the field.”

The chair of APA’s Committee on Wellbeing and Burnout, Lorenzo Norris, M.D., will convene the meeting on July 15. Press are invited to attend the virtual immersive for reporting purposes. For more information, write [email protected].

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 39,200 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses. APA's vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please visit www.psychiatry.org.