Causes and Prevention of Burnout in Human Service Staff

Causes and Prevention of Burnout in Human Services Staff

Stacy Hatlestad

November 5th, 2012

BSHS/462

Ursula Davis

Causes and Prevention of Burnout in Human Services Staff

The human services industry can be extremely stressful at times to both clients and staff. At times, stress escalates to a point known as burnout; when referring to a burnout a person will show the following signs. A person will be emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted with situations involving others that is demanding emotionally, physically and mentally. During this time of sensitivity, a person will feel though he or she has not accomplished anything with the clients he or she cares for. A person will also show signs of depersonalization; attitudes towards clients and possibly other staff will be uncaring, short, and snappy almost dehumanizing (Lewis, Packard, and Lewis).

Factors that cause a burnout

Individual and Cultural

Burnouts can be caused from a variety of aspects starting with the individual his or herself. A person with high, unachievable goals is one example of a burnout. Creating high unreachable goals causes a person to become bitter and dehumanizing towards others including co-workers because he or she feels unworthy and beaten from not achieving his or her career goals. Another example of an individual factor is personality factors. A person that has type A personality is competitive and likes to work a lot. With these characteristics, type A personalities have a difficult time maintaining good health and can become harsh and bitter towards others' (Lewis, Packard, and Lewis

Organizational

An organization itself can cause a burnout in staff and clients' it all depends on these factors. If the management team is not on the same page as the rest of the organization; or if there is a lack of communication between the entire company this can cause a burnout. Another example is a work overload. If a company expects too much from its employees without decent compensation, breaks or anything else it causes a burnout. There are many other factors that can contribute to an organization causing a burnout to its staff and clients but the most important factors are listed.

Supervisory and Social Support

A support group or supervisor causes a burnout in the organizations clients and other staff by a decrease in decision making participation (Lewis, Packard, and Lewis). Staff and clients feel unimportant and left out when his or her supervisor or support staff make decisions without consulting the rest of the organization. The staff feel degraded and of a lower level than the supervisory members.

Methods to Preventing Burnout

Organizations themselves are very stressful places, adding clients to the equation and the sum can become unbearable. In order to help change the way an organization feels or operates can be as simple as changing a few aspects. For instance, job structure can become overwhelming when more than one client is assigned to an individual staff. Decreasing a persons' workload by dividing clients evenly between the staff or by switching roles every now and then keeps the motivation going (Lewis, Packard, and Lewis). It is important for supervisors and management staff to fairly provide resources and alternatives when dealing with burnouts.

On a more personal level, as an individual what can be done is attend trainings that critique different ways of dealing with different situations. This will help the individual keep his or her cool during difficult and stressful situations and it provides confidence in his or herself that shows on the outside as well as the inside and can ultimately help others' through difficult times as well. Other strategies that could benefit not only his or herself but everyone surrounding him or her is eating healthier