Burnout, a phenomenon still little known in Africa

The topic of mental illnesses remains taboo in Africa. Kenyan satirist Ted Malanda wrote in 2014: “‘I understand that a man might hang himself because his wife left him, because he is unemployed, because the neighbor bewitched him, or because he was caught kissing his mother-in-law. But to kill yourself because you suffer from depression is simply not African.’” He could not have been more mistaken. Mental illnesses are a growing scourge in Africa, affecting all social classes, both poor and wealthy. Burnout is one facet of mental illness. This condition can cause permanent damage, and contrary to common belief, it is not limited to the professional sphere alone. Let’s ZOOM in on this illness, which deserves more recognition in Africa.

What is burnout?

The professional exhaustion syndrome, or burnout in English, is defined as “physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion resulting from prolonged investment in emotionally demanding work situations.” This state can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or profession. It is primarily caused by chronic stress due to intense professional pressure, a lack of social support, and unrealistic expectations. Individuals susceptible to burnout fall into a vicious cycle combining fatigue, demotivation, a sense of failure, and the need to work even harder to break free, ultimately leading to complete exhaustion.

How to detect burnout?

There are several signs that may indicate you are experiencing burnout. Physical symptoms often appear first: fatigue, back pain, insomnia, migraines, and frequent infections. You may also experience muscle weakness such as asthenia, musculoskeletal disorders, and gastrointestinal problems.

The person suffering from burnout will also exhibit emotional, behavioral, and attitudinal disturbances, including:

• anxiety, diffuse muscle tension, low mood or lack of enthusiasm, irritability, hypersensitivity, emotional numbness;
• cognitive impairments: memory, attention, concentration, and executive function difficulties;
• social withdrawal, isolation, aggressive or sometimes violent behavior, reduced empathy, resentment and hostility toward colleagues; addictive behaviors;
• gradual disengagement, decreased motivation and morale, erosion of work-related values; self-doubt and professional devaluation.

This list is not exhaustive but aims to help you recognize the early warning signs of professional exhaustion syndrome.

What are the risk factors?

Risk factors for burnout are largely related to the work environment. Constant task overload, lack of autonomy, and insufficient recognition at work can lead to exhaustion. Additionally, if individuals feel that no matter how hard they try, they cannot advance in their careers (e.g., promotion opportunities), they are more prone to burnout.

Private life also strongly influences the onset of this condition. Heavy family responsibilities, personal conflicts (conscious or not), and emotional loneliness are aggravating factors when experienced alongside work stress.

To aid in diagnosing burnout, the Gollac report identifies six categories of psychosocial risk factors:

• work intensity and organization (task overload, unclear roles, unrealistic objectives, etc.);
• high emotional demands (exposure to suffering, death, emotional dissonance);
• autonomy and latitude;
• work relationships (interpersonal conflicts, lack of team support, poor management, etc.);
• value conflicts;
• job insecurity.

Additionally, a history of depression or limited coping capacity can increase the risk of developing burnout.

Different types of burnout

While the definition emphasizes professional origins, there are various types of burnout.

Professional burnout

This is the most commonly known form and is linked primarily to the workplace, disrupting professional life.

Family burnout

It manifests when stress is central to family relationships, affecting both children and parents, ultimately destabilizing the family unit.

Maternal burnout

This affects mothers who are physically and psychologically exhausted. Striving to do everything perfectly, they eventually cannot manage their personal and family life effectively.

Parental burnout

This primarily affects parents juggling personal and professional responsibilities who can no longer balance both.

Boreout

In contrast to professional burnout, this form is due to boredom. The individual has almost no tasks at work and becomes unhappy in their role, leading to emotional and psychological imbalance.

Burnout in Africa

In Africa, this condition is very poorly understood.

This lack of awareness stems largely from insufficient education about burnout signs and symptoms, as well as limited resources for treatment.

Work culture in many African countries emphasizes overwork, with the belief that relentless labor is the only path to success. This culture makes workers more vulnerable to burnout, due to increased pressure and lack of rest and recovery time.

What are the health effects?

Burnout can have serious mental and physical health effects. Sufferers may experience fatigue, irritability, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, physical pain, and more. These symptoms can impair professional and personal life, as well as relationships.

Permanent sequelae may develop if not treated early enough, including chronic fatigue, major cognitive impairments (lasting memory, logic, and concentration deficits). Essentially, one can permanently damage their intellectual capacity.

There may also be lasting cardiovascular, musculoskeletal issues, chronic pain, and myalgias—unfortunately, these can become chronic conditions.

In extreme cases, burnout can lead to suicide.

How is it managed?

Management involves treating the diagnosed disorder while addressing the socio-professional context that caused it. A medical leave of absence is often necessary, with duration determined by the condition’s evolution and work context.

It is also important to prepare for return to work by scheduling a visit with the occupational health physician, which can be requested by the patient, occupational doctor, or insurer’s physician.

Prevention

Prevention focuses on improving work conditions and lifestyle habits. You can adopt several practices:

• Learn to prioritize: when overloaded, organize tasks and delegate as needed;
• Use the SMART philosophy for goal-setting: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound—to avoid frustration and failure;
• Identify your stress triggers to manage them effectively;
• Learn to say no when necessary. No one is irreplaceable; if you are unavailable, someone else can help;
• If you feel work stress, talk to loved ones or to peers with similar experiences. Isolation fuels emotional exhaustion;
• Listen to your body. Regular physical activity helps release stress. If tired, avoid stimulants like coffee, tea, chocolate, colas, guarana, alcohol, and ideally tobacco. Certain supplements like magnesium or alpha1-casein decapeptide may also help manage stress;
• Slow down your work pace, take regular breaks, and… do nothing sometimes! Stay calm under pressure and put things into perspective;
• Separate work and personal life as much as possible. Avoid checking work emails at home.

In conclusion, it is crucial to recognize burnout as the second most common occupational disease. Awareness and open dialogue are key to identifying early signs and addressing the issue promptly to prevent permanent damage.

By working together to create healthier, more sustainable work environments, we can help prevent burnout and support the well-being of all workers.

Employers must also commit to fostering work cultures that promote work–life balance and encourage collaboration and mutual support among colleagues.

As a platform connecting individuals and healthcare professionals, SennaCare stands ready to provide information on available treatments and help those suffering from burnout find qualified professionals in their region.