Burnout, also called burnout syndrome, is a depressive state linked to the professional environment; it was detected at the beginning, within the helping professional categories (social workers, medical workers, etc.).
This pathology, which can have serious consequences on the patient’s well-being and physical integrity, requires a diagnosis as early as possible. In fact, as with many disorders and pathologies, the chances of recovery increase, and the risk of serious events (such as a suicide attempt) decreases with the earliest diagnosis and treatment.
Currently, burnout syndrome is mainly treated in psychiatry, once the patient has “given in” and is no longer able to work.
The negative perception of psychiatry, so common in France, means that consulting at the first signs of burnout is socially ill-perceived. The subject is often ashamed to admit its tiredness and distress, and even less dares to ask for assistance, for fear of being judged as already out of the race. The displayed performance and endurance are also valued in the common conception of executive work.

Innovating in the prevention of burnout means, above all, developing control and diagnostic systems that are easy to access and open to everyone.
The change to be made, on this type of support, cannot be made in the short term as the perception of psychiatry is negative, most often leading subjects to hide their distress.
However, there are solutions to be deployed within companies, to help identify at-risk subjects more effectively and early:

• free and anonymous access to psychological assistance for executives of a company;


• annual medical check-up for all management teams;


• establishment of discussion groups;


• promotion of the voluntary monitoring process for managers.