LESSON 2
BURNOUT, DEPRESSION, AND SUICIDE
2-1.
INTRODUCTION
Burnout, depression, and suicide occur much more often than most people
realize. Unrelieved burnout can lead to depression, and prolonged depression will often
lead to suicide or at least to the planning of suicide. In a combat situation, this deadly
chain of psychiatric illness can cost the lives of many soldiers and seriously endanger
the mission. As a first line medical care provider, it is your job to recognize the
symptoms of burnout and depression, and provide or refer the patient for medical care
so that suicide does not happen. Depending on the type and the severity of the
symptoms, you may need to refer a patient back from the front line for extended
inpatient treatment. This lesson will provide the information you need to make this kind
of decision.
2-2.
BURNOUT
a. Definition. Burnout can be defined as a state of physical and emotional
exhaustion in which one feels a negative self-concept and negative attitude toward his
job. Burnout is a symptom that suggests that a person's job expectations are higher
than reality. Burnout is the attitude that "a job is a job is a job." Burnout is often seen
among individuals in the health care setting because these individuals are very
idealistic. They want to save the world from disease and death; not everyone can be
saved.
b. Causes: General. There are a variety of causes of burnout. Some causes
come from inside the person--internal causes. A person may set unrealistically high
goals. He is totally committed to the job, a perfectionist who wants to tackle all the
problems himself, and takes on all possible responsibilities. Once he finds that there
are simply not enough hours in the day for him to do everything perfectly, he
experiences burnout. Other internal causes of burnout include personal problems:
domestic problems (trouble at home); stress in a personal relationship; etc. Sometimes
the chief causes of burnout come from outside the individual --external causes.
Included in this classification are:
(1)
Overwork.
(2)
Shortage of staff and supplies.
(3)
Unresponsive leadership.
(4)
Lack of group cohesiveness (or no esprit de corps).
MD0586
2-2