Even healthy, well-paid coworkers may be vulnerable to burnout – a condition that the World Health Organisation defines as a mental state of exhaustion and negativism related to professional activities. It can significantly decrease an employee's work effectiveness and, in some cases, even affect their health.
Recently, Anna Middleton—a professional social scientist and genetic counselor from the University of Cambridge—shared a list of advice with a local British dental magazine, Dentistry, about how to prevent employee burnout and how to help them if it happens.
What are the main causes of burnout?
Like many other medical practitioners, dentists are also required to pay top-level attention during procedures and operations to avoid consequences for patients' health and maintain high treatment standards. The surrounding environment aggravates this emotional tension – dentists often cure people who experience anxiety or sharp pain, which affects the doctor's mind as well.
Additionally to this stress, dentistry is also characterized by a high amount of repetitive physical strain – performing awkward postures and very similar motions during the working day – which is a source of physical exhaustion.
Last but not least – professional isolation – many dentists prefer (or have to work) in solo practices, which may lead to a sense of loneliness, lack of support, and additional complications during work.
Who is in the risk group?
Less experienced workers – young professionals – have the highest risk of burnout. In addition to the stress factors described above, these dentists, at the start of their careers, may experience tension caused by maintaining student debt or other personal problems.
Gender also matters – men usually have internal stress, which may not be obvious and commonly can manifest with physical symptoms.
Women, in turn. may be more likely to share their feelings with someone and seek professional help in case of mental problems. However, women more often experience a problem with a work-life balance, burdened by family businesses.
How can we fight the burnout?
According to Dr. Middleton, many ways exist to save professionals from these disorders. The first bunch is about personal approaches, such as:
- Mindfulness – breathing techniques and simple meditation – are the keys to permanently reducing stress levels and will help you handle situational sparks of anxiety.
- Physical health – regular exercise and yoga are crucial to stress management.
As a manager of the dental facility, you have an opportunity (and responsibility) to establish special practices for your workers to support their well-being:
- Counseling services and mental health programs can help to prevent the emergence of burnout's "symptoms."
- A healthy work environment is one of the most efficient tools, and it includes providing a healthy corporate culture, promoting teamwork, recognizing achievements, and many other simple initiatives that significantly reduce burnout's causes.
If you are interested in stress management in your dental facility, you should attend one of Dr. Middleton's webinars, one of which is coming this September!
