PREVENTION OF PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT AMONG PRACTISING PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE CONTEXT OF MAINTAINING THEIR PROFESSIONAL HEALTH DURING MARTIAL LAW IN UKRAINE

Abstract

This article presents a theoretical study of an issue that has gained significant scientific interest during the ongoing war in Ukraine, as there has been a considerable increase in the demand for psychological support among various segments of the population with psychotraumatic experiences. Working in such challenging circumstances exposes Ukrainian psychologists to their own complications – increased mental stress, fatigue, and emotional exhaustion – all of which elevate the risk of professional burnout and threaten their overall occupational well-being. The author examines the essence of professional health through the lens of three key theoretical models: adaptive, integrative, and existential-humanistic. Findings indicate that professional burnout negatively affects all dimensions of professional health, including physical (biological), mental, social, and spiritual aspects. The article highlights that psychologists’ work inherently carries a high risk of burnout due to sustained psycho-emotional demands, the necessity to provide professional help to clients with a wide range of psychological difficulties, and communicative overload resulting from these factors. Moreover, the risk of professional burnout is further intensified by large-scale crises such as pandemics and armed conflict. In addition, the specifics of professional burnout among practising psychologists are defined, taking into account the psychological characteristics of their professional activity. The study details the typical progression of burnout in practising psychologists, beginning with emotional exhaustion and ultimately leading to a marked decline in personal accomplishment, accompanied by diminished selfesteem and dissatisfaction with job performance. Finally, the article outlines key strategies for preventing professional burnout among practising psychologists and supporting their professional health. These include cultivating emotional self-regulation skills, effective time management, and stress resilience; practising autogenic and relaxation techniques; securing systematic supervision and collegial support; and adopting personal self-help approaches that strengthen goal setting, meaning-making in professional life, and self-realisation. Together, these strategies form a comprehensive framework for preserving the professional health of psychologists working under martial law.