Silent burnout: when resilience becomes a trap for healthcare professionals

Abstract

Introduction: Burnout Syndrome among healthcare professionals has intensified due to institutional cultures that glorify resilience as a moral imperative, leading to the silencing of emotional suffering. The concept of “silent burnout” reflects the normalization of exhaustion and the difficulty of early recognition. Methodology: This integrative review adopted an exploratory and qualitative approach, following the steps proposed by Mendes, Silveira, and Galvão. Searches were conducted through the Virtual Health Library across LILACS, SciELO, PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and BDENF using DeCS/MeSH descriptors related to burnout. After screening, 14 articles published between 2019 and 2024 were included. Results and Discussion: Findings indicate that organizational issues, workload burden, long shifts, and resource shortages are predominant triggers of burnout. The demand for resilience functions as a mechanism of individual accountability, masking institutional failures and hindering recognition of symptoms. The “healthcare hero” narrative reinforces the belief that showing vulnerability represents weakness, increasing psychological distress. Continuous institutional interventions—such as emotional support programs, listening groups, and workload reduction policies—proved effective in reducing burnout rates. Conclusion: Burnout among healthcare workers is revealed as a systemic phenomenon exacerbated by misinterpreted resilience. Long-term institutional strategies are crucial to promoting emotional well-being, preventing mental exhaustion, and improving care quality.