Burnout prevention: Act on all 3 levels for real impact
The three levels of mental health prevention
Let’s begin with a clear definition of the three levels:
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Primary Prevention: This is the most upstream level. It targets a healthy population with the goal of acting on the potential causes of problems—by reducing risk factors and strengthening protective ones. Action is taken before any symptoms appear.
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Secondary Prevention: Here, action is taken as soon as the first signs emerge. There are some initial symptoms, but we can still act effectively to prevent escalation.
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Tertiary Prevention: This level addresses individuals already in distress. The role here is therapeutic: to treat disorders, prevent complications, support healing, and avoid relapse.
Applying the model in the workplace
Applied to the world of work, this approach helps structure a true burnout prevention strategy. And no, it’s not just about offering a yoga session at the end of the day! Action must be taken at multiple levels, depending on employees’ degree of exposure and vulnerability.
Primary Prevention at Work: Act on the Causes
This involves tackling organizational stressors, such as:
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Realistic working hours
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Balanced workload
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Clear roles and career progression paths
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A healthy, caring work environment
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High-quality leadership
“Acting in primary prevention means rethinking the work environment to reduce unnecessary pressure. It’s the foundation of a healthy climate—but one that's too often overlooked,” says our psychologist.
Secondary Prevention: Equip the Teams
When tensions start to surface, but before full burnout sets in, we enter the realm of secondary prevention. This may include:
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Training on stress management or mindfulness
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Awareness workshops on harassment or mental load
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Support groups or listening spaces
“The goal is to spot early warning signs and give workers tools to manage their professional life before things escalate,” our psychologist explains.
Tertiary Prevention: Support Healing
When an employee is already experiencing burnout or a confirmed psychological disorder, appropriate therapeutic support is essential. This includes:
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Psychological or medical care
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Guided support for returning to work
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Long-term work to prevent relapse
“Here, the therapist plays a fundamental role. It’s not just about healing—it’s about rebuilding and ensuring a safe return,” adds our psychologist.
Why employers must step in
Too often, burnout prevention is seen as an individual responsibility: everyone should manage their own stress, balance, and boundaries. However, burnout’s causes are mostly systemic.
That’s why employers have a major role to play:
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By implementing clear, structured prevention policies
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By training managers to detect early warning signs
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By making mental health a strategic pillar of HR
Acting only on the individual is like patching a leak without fixing the pipe.
In practice: Melimpus as a lever for action
Melimpus’s offering fits into this 360° logic: providing tools tailored to each level of prevention, and helping organizations shift toward a healthier, more sustainable culture.
“A company that acts on all three levels creates a truly protective work environment. It’s not an expense—it’s a long-term investment in health and performance,” concludes our psychologist, Stéphanie Delroisse.
Melimpus provides training, diagnostic tools, customized interventions, and psychological support when needed. A comprehensive approach, dedicated to sustainable team well-being.
