We did it! The First Ibero-American Congress Against Burnout finally took place.
We are happy and proud of what happened during the event. Those were days of tremendous learning, wisdom, and rest. We enjoyed ourselves!
Below, we will give you a brief summary of the presentations given throughout the day at the conference.
Here you will find an overview of the key points and highlights from each of the speakers who joined us.
As you know, this conference combined lectures by renowned experts with break experiences to promote the importance of "taking a break" as a method of preventing burnout.
On Friday, June 30, the main conference day was held with expert speakers in different areas related to burnout syndrome, moderated by international communicator and life strategist Ismael Cala and Dominican communicator Nahiony Reyes.
María Méndez, founder and president of VIAHR, welcomed attendees, highlighting her experience as someone who has recovered from burnout, which motivated her to create this foundation to share tools with others globally and thus promote the mental and overall health of humanity.
For her part, Yira Vermenton, Director of Provincial Tourism Initiatives representing the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), said that they are putting the Dominican Republic, a country that has it all, at the service of the world. She invited them to enjoy and connect with its people, and to take a break as a way of increasing the levels of connection between people. She emphasized that this conference is the beginning of a global movement against a silent enemy: burnout.
Mario Paredes, health manager and entrepreneur (Somos Community Care), stated that "We cannot continue with the methods and structures that we have established for centuries. Change is urgent; I believe that María Méndez's initiative is a great opportunity for governments, companies, and institutions in society. Now we have to commit ourselves to carrying out this project."
During the forum "Vision in the Face of Burnout," Ismael Cala stated that 59% of workers are quitting silently, while 18% are quitting loudly, according to Gallup data.
In this forum, Carmen Martínez, PAHO/WHO Regional Advisor on Mental Health, stated that 50% of the costs of mental disorders are associated with indirect costs related to low productivity, and while work is a protective factor for mental health, it can also be a harmful factor and therefore must be addressed appropriately, taking rest into account, to help change the reality where 1 in 6 people in the world have mental health problems.
Dilcia Ruan, Director of VIAHR and corporate social responsibility advisor, stated that "at VIAHR, we want to provide a platform for all organizations to join forces to raise awareness and work to treat and prevent burnout." For Reverend Andrés Ramos, a Spanish priest and journalist, it is necessary for each person to find a dignified life and express their abilities through work, achieving a balance between work and rest. Likewise, Dr. Ramóhn Tallaj, a physician and entrepreneur in the health sector, leader of a network of 2,500 physicians in New York, called for reflection on the inequality that exists among people and how it affects the actions taken on burnout.
Regarding the challenges related to burnout, forum members mentioned: the lack of information about mental health at work; the need for significant regulations on mental health in the workplace that truly translate into tools at the local level; and the difficulty people have in recognizing when they need help and already have symptoms of this illness.
Some actions that can be taken to change the situation of burnout, in addition to seeking professional help, include:
- Talk honestly about the situation
- Establish and strengthen public-private partnerships on the issue, as well as the relevance of measuring, carrying out interventions, and then measuring again to verify the effect of the intervention.
- That is why VIAHR offers the Burnout self-diagnosis tool. click here to access it.
Norma Diaz, CEO of Community Health Group, also participated. She has sought ways to share her personal experiences with her colleagues in order to promote their well-being, since as a business leader she takes steps to ensure that all her employees are happy. She highlighted the importance of leaders' ability to listen in order to create happy organizations.
Aldo Cívico, an executive coach specializing in leadership development, believes it is important to work on a mental map aligned with a purpose to create the future. For Cívico, burnout is a symptom of a person operating from a false self; "when you lead your life from your false self, you act from reactivity, victimhood, and shadow." He also presented a summary of the Enneagram profiles and explained that the Enneagram is a tool that facilitates mental change. He shared the Havenning technique for treating symptoms of depression, anxiety, burnout, etc.
Néstor Braidot, neuroscientist, writer, researcher, and lecturer, said that change does not only happen in times of crisis; we can also change when we are happy and inspired. It is important to remember that we all have our brains in our hands and that we need to balance and manage our emotions, as well as our work and rest times.
Carl Honoré, writer, communicator, and lecturer, confessed that he is a recovered speed addict who now loves slowness, as he is happier now, lives in the present, and slowing down works wonders because it allows him to reconnect with life, people, and family.
Jacques Giraud, coach and expert in organizational development, stated that we need to redefine our productivity paradigm, sharing three key ideas: 1. Set boundaries to get organized 2. Rebuild your focus, and 3. Take breaks and choose your method for resetting your mind.
Alejandra Vallejo-Nágera, psychologist, therapist, and wellness expert, shared a powerful phrase: "Control stress before it controls you," for which she recommended practicing Chikun. Managing stress is essential for both individuals and companies, as when a person has less stress, they can be more productive and work better.
In a new forum moderated by Ismael Cala, Bisila Bokoko, businesswoman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, shared some of her work experience and how the actions you take and your mindset affect how you approach each situation, stating, "Don't let your fears be bigger than your dreams," reiterating the importance of taking action. Long live the pause!
For her part, María Méndez, founder and president of VIAHR, revealed that after spending more than 20 years without taking vacations, which had a significant impact on her personal and family life, including the loss of unique moments in her children's growth, and after being diagnosed with burnout and recovering, she decided to found the VIAHR Foundation in order to contribute to raising awareness about this illness. Based on her experience, she told the audience, "Allow yourselves to feel the pleasure of a break," because "without mental health, there is no true health," for which the proper management of emotions is also very important.
To close the conference sessions on July 1, Ismael Cala gave a theoretical and practical workshop entitled "Awareness and Induction to Pause." Ismael left attendees with one of his key messages: "Just as you are committed to planning your productive life, you should also plan your rest," and led them in a meditation experience.
Human beings "We are not machines. When you live such a fast-paced life, you lose your most human gestures and ruin your family."
Pope Francis
On Saturday, break and recreation activities were designed for attendees, who were invited to participate in upcoming activities organized by the VIAHR foundation.
We hope this brief summary gives you some idea of what we learned that day, and, of course, we'll see you at the next conference!
