The New Age of Burnout
Why Building and Empowering Community is the Way Forward
Today, we have a virulent new strain of burnout in the healthcare industry. And while burnout is not a new topic, it has grown increasingly important as a rapidly changing phenomenon that must be illuminated and addressed.
The combination of long hours, constant stress, unpredictability, and intense emotion for healthcare professionals, has bred systemic mental health headwinds that are impacting both providers and patients. Health care providers are feeling isolated, attacked and lonely. Patients are lacking access, quality time and the right information they need to make medical decisions.
We MUST do better, together, as a community.
The Trends Are Alarming
Did you know…
- Physicians are 2x more likely than the general population to commit suicide (Association of American Medical Colleges, March 2023)
- Depression, anxiety and insomnia have been on the rise for all medical professionals (The Guardian, September 2023)
- Nearly 40% of nurses describe their mental health as poor.(American Nurses Association Survey, 2020)
Add to this the COVID hangover, skyrocketing medical costs, shifts in “customer service” expectations and a general distrust in science and institutions, and you have the makings of a global crisis. The future is uncertain with alarming concern for the overall wellbeing of healthcare professionals around the world.
Overcoming the Headwinds
But like many diseases, this can be treated. With fresh thinking and new perspectives we can improve the outcomes for everyone. We believe that Healthcare Associations, more than ever before, are the method to drive immediate solutions and facilitate longer term innovations for the future.
Associations have a responsibility to help alleviate the effects of this global burnout. They are not only natural connecting hubs and education for like minded people, but at their core, they provide much needed community, helping to mitigate mental health risks through support, education, and inspiring change. We see that most association members value the community aspect of association membership more than anything. While the education and professional development benefits are incredible, being part of a like minded community and developing lifelong relationships matters most.
According to Susan R. Bailey, MD President of AMA, “We must be vigilant of signs of burnout and depression within ourselves and among our colleagues, and we must not hesitate to seek help when we recognize something is a miss. Physicians have resilience and self-reliance in abundance, but when we rely on those traits above all others, we put our own wellbeing and that of our patients and colleagues at risk.”
Thankfully, there is a place for people to turn to – a safe haven – for ideas, experience and protection. Associations are the catalyst for improving burnout, support, and advancing overall medical outcomes.
Associations Unite People
There is no panacea, but the best associations function like true communities made up of humans, regardless of the industry focus. They are not just associations who keep things moving day-to-day. They are great associations, the ones with a thriving member community and the tools to truly amplify and accelerate both medicine and patient outcomes. They do it faster and better. They do it together, as an empowered community.
This all starts with a vision – supported by smart strategy, innovation, stewardship and engagement. It takes an evolved mindset, a focus on humanity, and purposeful actions to deliver the immediate outcomes that we all seek.
Below are seven key actions that empowered associations can advance to help alleviate issues of this new age of burnout:
#1: Illuminate the Issue (and talk about it).
Make supporting mental health a priority for association members. Keeping it at the ‘top of the agenda’ in an association’s Vision can go a long way to establish hope, positivity and momentum. This may be the greatest member benefit there is.
#2: Put Empathy at the Center.
Beyond talking through the issue, create an empathetic environment—a place where everyone can be present, listen and respond. This helps people understand that their wellbeing, and not just their professional growth, is at the center of an association’s Vision. This matters so much. Providing education and professional development is essential to advancing new medical treatments and growing a medical specialty. But community and the support, ideation, and enrichment it offers is at the core of the solution.
#3: Cultivate the Next Generation.
An association’s success in combating burnout relies on making sure the entire community sees their association as a priority resource for professional needs and personal community. Creating advocacy and support among newer members by making them feel accepted not only creates positive experiences, but it also means new thinking and approaches for addressing the problem, ideas that can help innovate and energize the entire community.
#4: Educate the Whole Person.
Associations have a higher calling that lies beyond the education and tools it provides to help members have stronger careers and be better at their jobs. Associations have both the power and the responsibility to enable learning, insights, and support members with their physical and mental health.
#5: Focus on Mentoring and Peer to Peer Relationships.
No webinar or whitepaper can provide the power of a conversation between peers or the sharing of experience between a mentor and mentee. Making connective experiences central to the core of an association’s activities will elevate the discourse and problem solving. This is a truly magical aspect that associations should not overlook.
#6: Have a Plan for the Future.
An innovative strategic plan that connects with clear objectives and key results is essential. Associations should also have a transparent succession plan that’s clearly communicated to members. The activities build confidence in an association’s ability to support its community and drive results; which builds stronger engagement and a sense of purpose in serving the patient among your members. Both of these activities strengthen the overall community connection.
#7: Lean into Change.
While burnout is changing rapidly, so are the solutions, resources and processes to combat. Be aggressive in exploring innovative ideas, the potential of new technology and the energy of intelligent risk-taking. Standing still means falling behind. On a personal level, as a lifetime kidney transplant patient, when I am nervous about risk-taking or change, I lean into it simply by visualizing past experiences that were scary to me. I remind myself that if I could do something difficult in the past, I can do it again. I never regret leaning into change – and neither will you.
We Are All One
In closing, all of this comes down to understanding that this new age of burnout is not just an industry issue – it’s truly a human issue. One that is shared among patients, associations and all health care professionals. Remembering that we are all human, at the end of the day, is powerful. Physicians are human. Patients are human. As humans, we all want to connect with one another and have needs and want to be cared for. Use empathy, and when in doubt, do the friendliest thing possible.
Associations have the power to help lead the way, through fostering community and taking care of one another. Imagine the progress that can be made, if we all lean in, drive change, and support one another, raising our hands when we need help, and lending a hand when times get tough.
We CAN deliver upon this promise, by working together to navigate these ever-changing rough waters – always keeping the patient at the heart of it all.
