Training Module on the Right to Mental Health
Training Module on the Right to Mental Health for the Security Sector
for the Security Sector
Signs and Symptoms
Whileburnoutisnotadiagnosablepsychologicaldisorder,thatdoesnotmeanitshouldnot
betakenseriously.
Herearesomeofthemostcommonsignsofburnout:
ཙ AlienationfromworkͲrelatedactivities:Individualsexperiencingburnoutviewtheirjobsas
increasinglystressfulandfrustrating.Theymaygrowcynicalabouttheirworkingconditionsand
thepeopletheyworkwith.Theymayalsoemotionallydistancethemselvesandbegintofeel
numbabouttheirwork.
ཙ Physicalsymptoms:Chronicstressmayleadtophysicalsymptoms,likeheadachesand
gastrointestinalcomplaints,andsleepdisturbances.Theymayalsoincreasetheiralcoholintake.
ཙ Emotionalexhaustion:Burnoutcausespeopletofeeldrained,unabletocope,andtired.They
oftenlackenergytogettheirworkdoneortheybecomeincreasinglytenseandeasily
distracted,expectingthephonetoringatanymomentannouncingyetanothercrisisor
emergency.
ཙ Reducedperformance:Burnoutmainlyaffectseverydaytasksatworkorathomeespecially
whensomeone’smainjobinvolvescaringforfamilymembers.Individualswithburnouthavea
negativedispositiontowards tasks.Theyhavedifficultyconcentratingandoftenlackcreativity.
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Training Module on the Right to Mental Health
for the Security Sector
Whatare
yourstresses
atwork?
Slide 25
Training Module on the Right to Mental Health
for the Security Sector
Using SelfͲhelp Techniques To Deal With Stress
Tip1:Identifythesourcesofstressinyourlife.
Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life.
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To identify the true source of your stress, look closely at your habits,
attitude, and excuses:
ཙ Do you explain away stress as temporary (“I just have a million
things going on right now?”) even though you cannot remember
the last time you took a breather?
ཙ Do you define stress as an integral part of your work or home life
(“Things are always crazy around here”) or as a part of your
personality (“I have a lot of nervous energy, that’s all”)?
ཙ Do you blame your stress on other people or outside events, or
view it as entirely normal.
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Start a Stress Journal
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