How One Psychologist Is Fighting Healthcare Worker Burnout in Yakutsk

Emotional burnout remains a pressing issue for healthcare workers, who face daily exposure to suffering, fear, and life-altering decisions. Alena Afanasyevna Alekseeva, a psychologist at Yakutsk Republican Clinical Hospital, reports that medical staff frequently seek help for this problem, which disrupts both professional and personal lives. Hospital work demands immense dedication, selflessness, and psychological resilience. Staff often experience emotional burnout, stress, and conflict as part of their routine. Symptoms include fatigue, tension, physical and emotional exhaustion, apathy, and reduced cognitive function.

Alekseeva’s approach to tackling burnout involves a structured prevention and support system with three key stages. The first step she advises is recognising the problem and seeking help when workload becomes overwhelming. Meanwhile, young specialists are joining state-run medical institutions, supported by workforce policies and the national project Long and Active Life. Retaining healthcare employees and protecting them from burnout is a major challenge for the sector. Addressing these issues is vital to ensuring both the wellbeing of staff and the continuity of care. Alekseeva’s methods provide a framework to support those at risk.