PRESS
Contact for journalists and media:
Press releases - 2026:
New York, February 18, 2026. Addressing the critical challenge of workplace mental health, the VIAHR Foundation, Vacation Is A Human Right, officially announces the launch of its 2026 Global Call for Papers:“Healing the World through the Transformative Power of the Pause.”
“We believe that preventing burnout starts with taking an active and Mindful Pause,” stated Maria Méndez, President of the VIAHR Foundation. “This Call for Papers is our invitation to the global academic community to build, together, the scientific architecture that transforms the pause from a personal practice into a structural social change.”
This Global Call for Papers aims to mobilize the academic community to provide the scientific data needed to transform employee well-being from a corporate wellness concept into a structural strategic asset. Chronic workplace stress is a growing concern: the World Health Organization classifies burnout as an occupational syndrome of exhaustion, and globally depression and anxiety already cost trillions each year. By reframing pauses as a systematic remedy, VIAHR’s initiative directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for Good Health (SDG 3) and Decent Work (SDG 8).
What participants gain
The initiative is designed to bridge the gap between academic theory and business application. All participants will receive training, join a vibrant international network, and have the opportunity to be published within the VIAHR network if selected. The author of the most impactful paper will be invited to present their findings at a high-level VIAHR conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York (November 2026), with a full travel grant included.
For submission guidelines and program details, please consult the VIAHR’s website at: https://viahr.org/en/convocatoria-2026/
Acerca de la Fundación VIAHR: Las vacaciones son un derecho humano
The VIAHR Foundation is a private non-profit organization founded and led by María Méndez, dedicated to raising global awareness about the biological and psychological necessity of the pause as the primary means of preventing burnout syndrome. Named after the conviction that rest is not a privilege but a fundamental human right, VIAHR operates through counseling, specialist guidance, training programs, and transformative rest experiences designed for both organizations and individuals affected by occupational exhaustion.
Here is the relevant information from other news platforms in 2026:
Press releases - 2025:
Colombia will host the Third Ibero-American Congress on Preventing Burnout, focused on healing emotional exhaustion.
Santo Domingo, September 13, 2025
The Colombian city ofCartagena de Indiaswill host theThird Ibero-American Congress on Preventing Burnout from November 20 to 23, 2025, this time focusing on healing emotional exhaustion and building sustainable leadership.
With the slogan"Leadership and efficiency: More human than ever," it will be a transformative gathering for leaders, healthcare professionals, companies seeking to prevent burnout, and specialists committed to human and organizational well-being.
"This year, we are focusing on those on the front lines: people who provide care, face crises, and lead under pressure. Their work is essential, but it also exposes them to emotional and physical exhaustion. Our purpose is clear: to raise awareness, learn to detect it, and apply practical solutions to heal those who care for others. Burnout does not distinguish between positions or geographies,"explained María Méndez, presidentof theVacation is a Human Right(VIAHR)Foundation,in Santo Domingo.
The third conference aims to convey three key messages: recognizing that burnout is real and universal, learning to detect early signs in the body, mind, and emotions, and adopting tools for self-care, rest, and sustainable leadership.
Colombia and Latin America against burnout
Theprogramannounced from the Dominican Republic, where the first edition was held in 2023, includes practical strategies for preventing and overcoming burnout, conferences with experts and real-life testimonials, and networking with professionals from across Latin America.
Among the speakers who will be presenting at the Sofitel Barú Calablanca Hotel in Cartagena de Indias are Carmen Martínez, mental health advisor to the Pan American Health Organization; Bisila Bokoko, entrepreneur and philanthropist; Mario J. Paredes, entrepreneur and philanthropist; Laura Gámez, founder of the QURE Institute and pioneer of Frequency Medicine and Unified Science; Jacques Giraud, master coach and expert in organizational development; Renzo Salazar, psychologist; Yira Vermenton, coach and wellness and health consultant; Francisco Mascayano, researcher at Columbia University; and Yomaris Peña.
Burnoutis a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when people feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. It also reduces productivity and depletes energy.
Vacation is a Human Right Foundation(VIAHR) aims to raise awareness about the importance of taking breaks as a means of preventing burnout, through counseling, guidance, training, and rest experiences for companies and individuals with this condition. VIAHR is the leading NGO in Latin America on these issues.
Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, to reasonable limitation of working hours and to periodic paid vacation."
Some press coverage:
Complete the relevant information on other news platforms during the year 2025:
Press releases - 2024:
The second edition concluded in Madrid with a discussion of topics such as the responsibility of companies to establish policies and standards to protect the mental health of workers.
Madrid, October 28, 2024
Health, work-life balance, new ways of working, well-being, and burnout will be the central themes.
Spain, July 24, 2024
The Second Ibero-American Congress on Preventing Burnout will be held in Madrid (Spain) on October 24, 2024, focusing on priority issues such as health, work-life balance and new ways of working, well-being, and work-related exhaustion.
After a successful first edition in Casa de Campo (La Romana, Dominican Republic), the event travels to the Spanish capital thanks to the Vacation Is a Human Right Foundation (VIAHR), the founding entity, and the newspaper RRHH Digital, with the co-organization of the Spanish Association of Human Resources Directors.
"The conference aims to offer knowledge, tools, and solutions related to workplace well-being, talent management, and burnout prevention. Following the experience of the first conference in the Dominican Republic, we are now entering a phase of consolidation and expansion," said María Méndez, president and founder of Vacation Is a Human Right Foundation (VIAHR), at the presentation in Santo Domingo.
The event is aimed at directors and managers of Human Resources, Labor Relations, and Risk Prevention, as well as professionals in the fields of Human Resources, education, and public administration.
Experts from different disciplines will address topics such as "The employee: the heart and driving force of the company," "Employee health: Current diagnosis and future strategies," "Technology and occupational health: Strategies to minimize stress and prevent burnout in workers," and "Investing in mental health: Strategies to prevent work exhaustion," among others.
- Date: October 24, 2024
- Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Location: Jorge Juan Space – Calle Jorge Juan, 137 – 28028, Madrid. Spain.
On two additional days, October 25 and 26, there will be a conference on epigenetics and lifestyle changes, and a cooking class, where the relationship between food, epigenetics, nutrition, and well-being will be analyzed in a practical way. In addition, a guided walk will be organized in the Jardín de la Hilaria, to reconnect with nature and combat stress.
RRHHDigital is the leading free newspaper providing information on the Human Resources sector. It covers the most relevant trends and developments in the sector, helping professionals to keep up to date with best practices and developments in their field.
VIAHR is an organization that champions "mindful pauses" as a daily habit and way of life, resulting in less exhausted and stressed employees and creating friendlier, more humanized environments.
Some press coverage:
Complete the relevant information on other news platforms during 2024:
Press releases - 2023:
Organized by Vacation is a Human Right Foundation (VIAHR), it will feature will feature experts on the prevention and treatment of mental health problems, including Carmen Martínez Viciana (PAHO/WHO), Alejandra Vallejo-Nágera, Néstor Braidot, Michael Leiter, and Ismael Cala.
Santo Domingo, June 21, 2023
The First Ibero-American Congress Against Burnout will be held in the Dominican Republic from June 29 to July 2 with the mission of exploring the risks of work exhaustion syndrome in individuals and its impact on business productivity.
"We are welcoming experts involved in the prevention and treatment of mental health problems, including Carmen Martínez Viciana, from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO); Alejandra Vallejo-Nágera, psychologist (Spain); Dr. Néstor Braidot, neuroscientist (Argentina-Spain), Michael Leiter, psychologist and burnout expert (USA), and Ismael Cala (Cuba-USA), communicator and life strategist," announced María Méndez, president of Vacation is a Human Right Foundation (VIAHR).
"We all experience difficult moments of work exhaustion and 'emotional fatigue.' We must urgently become aware of this, that we are human beings, not machines. We must focus our attention inward, self-managing our emotions and developing emotional energy coherence. Synergy between energy and emotion, to generate quality of life," said Néstor Braidot.
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Bisila Bokoko, another participant, said, "We are at an optimal moment, because there is growing awareness that burnout is a reality. And that stopping and resting is essential for improving productivity."
According to the Aflac Workforces Report, Generation Z (71%), those with multiple jobs (66%), Hispanics (65%), millennials (65%), and women (62%) are seriously affected by burnout. Even so, in 2023, 45% of employers do not seem willing to consider burnout as an organizational problem, compared to last year (43%).
"The prevalence of burnout calls for urgent action. It is essential that workplaces are designed for people, rather than requiring them to conform to structures. Workplaces should be spaces where people can fulfill their aspirations to belong to a community, while contributing to excellent work," explained Professor Michael Leiter.
Dilcia Ruan, project director at VIAHR, added that the conference will feature forums, interviews, lectures, Q&A sessions, mini workshops, and networking activities. There will also be a day off for rest and relaxation at the exclusive Casa de Campo resort.
VIAHR is a private, non-profit foundation committed to the well-being of individuals suffering from burnout syndrome by promoting awareness of the importance of breaks as a means of preventing it. VIAHR offers support, guidance, training, and rest experiences for companies and individuals with this condition.
Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, to reasonable limitation of working hours and to periodic paid vacation."
Travel For Change is the event's sponsor-presenter. The main sponsors are Somos Community Care (New York), Banco Popular, the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism, El Nuevo Diario, and Basílica Medical Management.
In addition to in-person options, VIAHR has made virtual participation possible in order to reach as many people as possible. More details are available on our website.
New York, NY, March 14, 2023
Vacaciones es un Derecho Humano (VIAHR) will host the FIRST IBERO-AMERICAN CONGRESS AGAINST BURNOUT – TAKE A BREAK from June 29 to July 2, 2023. The bilingual congress is a crusade for change and awareness to raise awareness of the importance of breaks as a means of preventing burnout through counseling, guidance, training, and rest experiences for companies and individuals with burnout.
In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) added burnout to its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), defining it as a "syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed." It is characterized by three dimensions: feelings of exhaustion or energy depletion; increased mental distance from one's work, or feelings of negativity or cynicism related to one's work; and reduced professional efficacy.
"Burnout is a condition caused by an individual's work, and their relationship with their work can lead to this condition," Elaine Cheung, PhD, burnout researcher and assistant professor of social sciences at Northwestern University.
Statistics show that Gen Z (71%), those working multiple jobs (66%), Hispanics (65%), those working multiple jobs (66%), millennials (65%), and women (62%) are seriously affected by burnout. Yet 45% of employers are no more likely this year than last (43%) to view burnout as a problem for their organization. 2022-2023 Aflac WorkForces Report. "...focus on fixing the workplace rather than focusing on fixing the worker," said Christine Sinsky, MD, vice president of professional satisfaction at the American Medical Association (AMA).
In response, the 1ST IBERO-AMERICAN CONGRESS AGAINST BURNOUT – TAKE A PAUSE will present worldwide experts in Burnout Syndrome who will teach how to detect, prevent, and act against Burnout to achieve a balance of personal well-being and work productivity. Among the guest speakers are:
Carmen Martinez-Viciana, Regional Advisor on Mental Health and Substance Use at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) for Central America, Latin Caribbean, and Mexico. She will discuss PAHO/WHO's view on mental health in the workplace and why WHO has declared burnout an occupational disease and incorporated it into the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).
Dr. Michael P. Leiter, a psychologist and author, is internationally renowned for his work on burnout and engagement at work, spanning a career of more than 40 years in research and academia. Together with Christina Maslach (creator of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the most widely used instrument for measuring job burnout), Dr. Leiter has identified the key causes of workplace burnout and revealed what managers can do to promote increased productivity and health. He will discuss strategies on how to improve the workspace to prevent and alleviate burnout.
The bilingual 1ST IBERO-AMERICAN CONGRESS AGAINST BURNOUT – TAKE A PAUSE, to be held from June 29 to July 2, 2023, at the Casa de Campo Hotel (La Romana) in the Dominican Republic, is open to senior executives and healthcare professionals interested in learning how to combat the consequential advances of Burnout in the workplace.
Santo Domingo, February 28, 2023.
Experts involved in the prevention and treatment of mental health problems will participate in the First Ibero-American Congress Against Burnout , an event that will explore the impact of burnout syndrome on companies and the risks it poses to individuals.
Among the guests will be Carmen Martínez Viciana , representing the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO); Alejandra Vallejo-Nágera , psychologist and wellness expert (Spain); Dr. Néstor Braidot , neuroscientist (Spain), and Michael Leiter , psychologist and burnout expert (USA).
The event will be held between June 29 and July 2, 2023, at Casa de Campo (La Romana), Dominican Republic, with around 500 professionals, senior executives, human resources leaders, coaches, and health professionals from Latin America, the United States, and Europe.
"The conference will discuss tools that enable business productivity and personal well-being to be combined in one of the most idyllic locations in the Caribbean. We welcome PAHO/WHO and all the guest speakers," said María Méndez, president and founder of Vacation Is a Human Right Foundation (VIAHR).
VIAHR champions "mindful breaks" as a daily habit and way of life, resulting in less exhausted and stressed employees and creating friendlier, more humanized environments.
Exactly one year ago, the WHO established that burnout syndrome is a work-related problem.
"Today, human beings are subjected to work schedules that exhaust and dehumanize us, and we live as slaves to productivity. That is why rest must be a right for every human being. It is an activity that organizations should give due importance to, with the certainty that it will improve their employees' quality of life and work performance," said Mario J. Paredes, executive president of Somos Community Care, New York, sponsor and presenter of the event.
The Prosowa Foundation in Colombia, which promotes issues related to ethnicity, gender, health, sustainable development, and education, is one of the congress's partners.
For three days, business owners, executives, healthcare professionals, and workers interested in or affected by burnout syndrome will obtain information and tools on the subject and enjoy the experience of taking a "break."
Other guest speakers include Carl Honoré, writer and spokesperson for the Slow Down Movement (United Kingdom); Ismael Cala, strategist and communicator (USA); and Aldo Cívico, coach and leadership expert (Italy).
Santo Domingo, September 15, 2022.
The Dominican Republic will host the First Ibero-American Congress Against Burnout – Take a Break, a scientific and recreational event that will explore the impact of burnout syndrome on companies and the risks to individuals.
The conference will be held from June 29 to July 2, 2023, in Casa de Campo (La Romana), the exclusive and world-renowned resort area in the Dominican Republic.
"We will bring together around 500 Hispanic professionals, business owners, senior executives, human resources leaders, coaches, and health and mental health professionals from Latin America, the United States, and Europe to discuss the tools that enable business productivity and personal well-being to go hand in hand," explained María Méndez, president and founder of Vacation Is a Human Right Foundation (VIAHR), the event's organizer.
VIAHR champions "mindful breaks" as a daily habit and way of life, resulting in less exhausted and stressed employees, which in turn leads to friendlier and more humanized environments.
In January 2022, the latest revision of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases came into effect, establishing that burnout syndrome is a work-related problem.
"This disorder impacts and alters people's ability to work. It affects the quality of work, job satisfaction, motivation, commitment, teamwork, and cohesion," said Dr. Ramón Tallaj, VIAHR ambassador and president of Somos Community Care, a New York health organization.
Somos Community Care is the sponsor and presenter of the event, which is supported by the Pan American Health Organization, the Dominican Republic's Ministries of Tourism and Health, and the Mayor's Office of the National District (Santo Domingo). One of the partners is the Prosowa Foundation of Colombia, which promotes issues related to ethnicity, gender, health, sustainable development, and education.
The beneficiaries will be entrepreneurs, executives, health professionals, and workers interested in or affected by burnout syndrome, who, over the course of three days, in addition to acquiring information and tools, will have the opportunity to be guided in enjoying the experience of "pausing." Anyone interested is welcome to attend.
Following the conference, "VIAHR will benefit 50 low-income female healthcare and education workers (Latinas, Asians, and African Americans) affected by burnout, who will enjoy a break," said María Méndez.
Among the guest speakers are: Carl Honoré, writer and spokesperson for the Slow Down Movement (United Kingdom); Alejandra Vallejo-Nágera, psychologist and wellness expert (Spain); Dr. Néstor Braidot, neuroscientist (Spain), Ismael Cala, strategist and communicator (USA); Aldo Cívico, coach and leadership expert (Italy); and Michael Leiter, psychologist and burnout expert (USA).
Press contact:
Michel Suarez
Some press coverage:
Complete the relevant information on other news platforms:
