RECOGNIZING AND PREVENTING BURNOUT: EXTENSION EXPERIENCE WITH TEACHERS IN BELÉM, PARÁ

Abstract

The mental health of teachers in basic education has gained relevance in the academic field and public policies, being a determining factor in the teaching-learning process. In this sense, the aim of this article is to present an extension experience report developed by students from the Organizational and Work Psychology course, which sought to inform basic education teachers in a public school in Belém-Pará (Brazil), about the identification and prevention of burnout syndrome. The extension methodology consisted of conducting a diagnostic assessment of the occurrence of burnout through the application of the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT), holding a discussion circle, and providing an informational presentation on the identification and prevention of burnout. The results showed a significant proportion of participating teachers with a strong tendency to develop the syndrome, leading to the production of informational material on its identification and prevention. In total, 12 teachers were informed about how to identify and prevent burnout syndrome. We conclude by affirming the need to address the identification and prevention of burnout among teachers, as they are a group highly vulnerable to stress and work-related illnesses. At the same time, they represent a class of utmost importance to society, especially to children and adolescents in the school phase.