Addressing Burnout in High-Pressure Roles
The Department of International Public Health at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) recognised a growing need to support their staff’s mental wellbeing. Working in “caring professions,” these individuals often “feel the pain of the work” and risk “pouring from an empty cup” due to the emotional demands of international public health research and service.
For their departmental away day, they required an expert speaker to deliver a session that was both motivational and practical, focusing specifically on mental health resilience.
We were recommended to the department due to previous sessions with the LSTM that were deemed a great success for the organisation.
Reclaiming Resilience and Reconnecting to Purpose
SO Health was commissioned to deliver a one-hour keynote to open the away day. The primary objectives were to:
- Acknowledge the Cost of Care: Create a safe space to discuss the stress and burnout associated with “doing good work.”
- Redefine Resilience: Shift the narrative from “pushing through” to “recharging and realigning.”
- Provide Practical Tools: Equip staff with immediate, actionable techniques to manage their nervous systems and protect their empathic capacity.
A Framework of Pause, Reflect, and Reconnect
SO Health delivered a bespoke session titled “Reclaiming Resilience: Caring For Ourselves While Changing The World.” The session utilised a holistic approach involving:
- Deep Reflection: Guided activities such as the “Thriving Audit” and “Value Identification” to help staff assess their mental space, sleep, and relationships.
- Nervous System Regulation: Training in “Daily Rituals,” including 4-7-8 Mindful Breathing and Body Shake Release, designed to help staff find a sense of calm and control during high-stress periods.
- Intentional Commitment: The session concluded with a “One Word, One Intention” exercise, encouraging each participant to take personal ownership of their well-being journey.
The Result: Exceptional Impact and Staff Transformation
The feedback from the LSTM team was overwhelmingly positive, demonstrating the effectiveness of the SO Health approach:
- 100% Satisfaction: Every participant surveyed rated the session as “Very Helpful.”
- Actionable Takeaways: 75% of the group rated the tools and techniques shared as “Excellent,” noting their immediate usefulness.
- Meaningful Connection: 100% of respondents felt the activities encouraged deep reflection, and 100% reported feeling more “grounded, connected, or supported” in their professional roles following the talk.
- Structural Excellence: 100% of participants rated the session’s structure and delivery as “Good” or “Excellent.”
