46: Burnout in Optometry – Causes, challenges & solutions

A study conducted in Australia found that around half of optometrists experience burnout. One in every three optometrists also live with a mental health condition. We all know what workplace stress can feel like, but few of us can probably spot the signs of long-term stress turning into burnout. That can lead to even more serious mental health challenges and can affect how we care for our patients.

In this episode, Michelle Hanratty is joined by Neil Retallic, an optometrist and researcher in mental welfare at the University of Bradford, who is currently conducting a large survey of optometrists in the UK and Ireland. Neil explains why stress and burnout are more common in our profession than in the general population. Michelle then asks Dr Nicholas Taylor, a consultant psychiatrist, how to intervene before longer-term problems arise. Can we address root causes of stress in the workplace? 

Next month, Michelle will examine the physiological effect that long-term stress can have on optometrists.

Listen to our previous episodes on patient mental health (episode 26) and how to improve optometrists’ general wellbeing at work (episode 24). 

If you have a topic in mind that you’d like us to cover, or if you’ve got an interesting case study you’d like to share, send Docet a message on LinkedIn.

GOC-registered optometrists practising in England, Wales or Northern Ireland can gain 1 CPD point by listening to this podcast and completing the exercise on our website. This episode covers the GOC domains of Professionalism, and Leadership & Accountability. Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.