Burnout in mental health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion that is induced by states of prolonged and intense stress. It is a significant occupational problem among mental health providers and is heightened especially during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple psychological and occupational risk factors cause emotional and mental exhaustion, often leading to burnout. This minireview aims to synthesize evidence on burnout among mental health professionals and associated risk factors. A targeted literature search was carried out from PubMed, PsychINFO and google scholar to retrieve relevant literature. A review revealed a high prevalence of burn-out, ranging from 21 to 67% among mental health professionals. Long working hours, compassionate fatigue, vicarious trauma, distress, depersonalization, constant worry related to personal well-being and those of significant others, and lack of psychosocial support emerged as associated risk factors for burnout. Based on the evidence, we propose a strategic framework to prevent and manage burnout effectively