ABOUT
BTB
, neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, author, and Holocaust survivor
"What is to give light must endure burning."
-Viktor Frankl
The above quote strikes a nerve for us. As current frontline workers ourselves, we understand just how true Dr. Frankl's conclusion is. This quote also serves as the reason Beat the Burn was started. We felt the need to start taking a proactive approach against the inevitable burning that public servants experience in their line of work. We have seen one too many of our colleagues' flame burnout, for us to not try to make a difference. To achieve this we hope to create resilient minds, powerful communities, and a stronger tomorrow. It may not be easy but together we can beat the burn!
Beat the Burn wants to be as inclusive as possible. That is why we'll never place a definition on who or what a frontline worker is. In fact, we also hope to make a difference in the lives of those that support the frontline. Whether that's administrative departments, loved ones, volunteers, or onlookers. Whomever you are or the role you hold, Beat the Burn is for you.
Beat the Burn's approach is based on Dr. J Eric Gentry's research. His five-part compassion resiliency model of self-regulation, mission, peer support, perceptual maturation, and self-care is a focal point of our initiatives. We feel that basing our approach on the research already completed is not only the smartest but the most effective way of making a difference.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by our site and learning more about Beat the Burn!
How it started.
We exist to...
How we're
striving to
create
change
Creating change is never easy. Mission-driven careers have long been tied to high levels of stress and mental fatigue. So how do we expect to disrupt this equilibrium and keep the passion fuelled within our public servants? It starts with accepting that building resilience is the responsibility of the employee, their leaders, and the organization they work for. Too often, these three contributors place the blame on each other and rely on the others to solve the problem. We have the best opportunity to create change when the employee, the leader, and the organization all take ownership for their role in building resilience.
Beat the Burn's proactive efforts are modelled after the lessons taught by Chip and Dan Heath in Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard. This includes identifying the bright spots already entrenched in the frontline, scripting the direction, providing opportunities to build positive habits, and tweaking a work environment to support transformation.
Lastly, we recognize that the topic of mental health is very complex and could take a lifetime to understand. That is why we rely on the research of J. Eric Gentry, Ph.D., LMHC. The internationally recognized leader in clinical and disaster traumatology offers over 30 years of information to be shared freely with credit. Dr. Gentry is well known as an expert in the resolution of burnout, toxic stress, and compassion fatigue amongst caregivers. His books, courses, research, and counsel continue to help improve the mental health of frontline workers around the world. We feel that shaping our efforts around the research already completed by Dr. Gentry is not only the smartest but the most effective way of making a difference.
Referenced Sites:
- https://www.forward-facing.com/about-the-founder
- https://www.amazon.ca/Forward-Facing-Professional-Resilience-Prevention-Resolution/dp/1977223885
- https://aztrauma.org/about/meet-our-staff/eric-gentry-bio/
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/11xcy4rVS0NdGXTFk_S9jELTbjHq-B_RX/view