Men describe pressure and silence around burnout in SRF survey

Men surveyed by SRF in Zurich described work, studies and financial strain as major sources of pressure, while saying they often find it difficult to talk about burnout.

The non-representative street survey found that many men felt constantly under pressure. One young man said work and studies were the main causes. Another said he had experienced stress throughout his life and often thought, “I must.” An older man identified economic pressure as the strongest burden, adding that it was difficult to cope with financial strain at his age.

Performance pressure, expectations and personal demands can become so overwhelming that they lead to burnout. “Burnout is an excess of burdens,” said Christoph Walser, a theologian and men’s coach who has supported men experiencing burnout for almost 30 years. The many pressures, he said, can lead to mental and physical exhaustion.

All the men interviewed wanted to remain anonymous. One said he had grown up believing that people did not talk about such issues, even though both his mother and father had experienced burnout or come close to it. Others said that openly discussing burnout could mean admitting weakness or acknowledging that they had failed as men.

Shame can also play a role, one older participant said. “At my age, I should have managed it,” he said.

Walser said men’s traditional ideas of masculinity remained strong and that many had lacked role models, such as fathers who were able to admit weakness. Shame can lead exhausted men to seek help less often or later.

Participants said men should treat one another with kindness and avoid judging anyone who was struggling. They also stressed the importance of listening carefully when someone raises the subject of burnout. Showing vulnerability, one participant said, could help prevent it.

Walser said developing the ability to recover could help men avoid burnout. This meant learning how to rest effectively and deliberately making time for activities done solely for oneself. Such time-outs were particularly important during periods of heavy pressure at work and in the family, he said.

Christian Baumgartner, a psychologist working at Zurich’s psychiatric university clinic, also emphasised the importance of recovery. “As in sport, recovery is part of being able to perform,” he said.