Work in psychiatry can be strenuous – both in terms of caseload and the kind of work. Health care reforms have increased the pressure even further, amplifying the risk of burnout. Burnout research has been criticized for neglecting the perspective of those potentially at risk. This qualitative study seeks to throw light on the burnout literacy of mental health professionals and its implication on their help-seeking behaviour. It further seeks to identify the relevant mechanisms in transforming health literacy into action.

Focus groups were carried out with mental health providers (n=215) from different settings (in-patient/community-based), as well as professional groups. They addressed participants’ job strain and job-related resources, as well as their definition of what constitutes burnout, and what should be done about it. Group sessions were audio-taped, transcribed, and analysed by means of a qualitative procedure.

Mental health professionals are well-informed about burnout. They perceive burnout as a multidimensional syndrome that affects professionals’ mental and physical health, job motivation, job performance as well as their relationship with their clients, and propose multiple intervention strategies. However, two major obstacles are described in translating their knowledge into practice: burnout (1) goes undetected for a long time and (2) has a stigma attached to it.

While mental health professionals’ burnout literacy is high, the social perception of burnout poses a serious barrier to early detection and treatment. Burnout prevention strategies should become an integral part of continuous medical education to ensure that mental health professionals can work effectively.