A good friend of mine has a severe burnout syndrome and I would like to know how to help. And maybe more importantly, how NOT to help. The NOT is important since I see all his friends/family/etc. giving him unasked advice, which I fear will not make it better.
My first advice is to avoid the temptation to practice pop psychology. Burnout is not a recognized clinical diagnosis in the DSM {<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_burnout" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_burnout</a>}. The pop-psychology of is a way of perpetuating the stigma associated with accurate clinical diagnosis for a mental health condition.<p>My second piece of advice follows from that. There my be clinical issues and those may best be addressed by a professional clinician such as a <i>licensed</i> psychologist, mental health councilor, or clinical social worker.[1] A role you can play is to normalize and destigmatize the idea of professional mental health treatment. Ask the people you know if they can recommend a clinician for your friend.<p>Yes, "I have a friend who might need a professional mental health clinician, do you know anyone?" has a certain "No, really it's a friend" connotation. Accepting that people may reach the wrong conclusion is part of being able to destigmatize and normalize mental health treatment.<p>Good luck.<p>[1]: I don't have anything against Psychiatrists. It's more a matter of access to Psychiatrists is limited and [in the US] typically done via referral from a councilor or MD general practitioner for the purpose of prescription based on an existing diagnosis. Which reminds me that your friend might also address their burnout with their regular doctor and likewise, your regular doctor might be a source of referral for licensed clinicians for your friend.
My recommendation (not a doctor) is to makes it easy for them to engage, so it is almost accidental.<p>With burnout, at least in part, and depending on the person, there is a tendency to withdraw. Invite them to go do something already planned, that they don't have to pay for, that won't take too long and you know they enjoy. Then just be a friend without expectations.<p>I think advice and suggestions can make things worse because making a decision or taking action is often the thing that has them locked-up.
Yes he is in tech (developer). And yes, he was at the doctors. I think it's his official diagnosis. So he is now for 1-2 month on leave. Luckily, being on "sick" leave for such a long time is no problem in Austria. So he won't have problems getting the job back and he still receives normal payment.