Surviving Burnout in Academia

Burnout is widely recognised in psychological research and therapy globally, yet its impact is not evenly distributed. For women of color in academia, systemic barriers – such as institutional inequity and disproportionate expectations - can often intensity the onset and consequences of burnout. Surviving Burnout in Academia responds directly to this disparity by centring their voices.

Bringing together scholars and professionals who identify as women of colour, this powerful edited collection combines scholarly research with personal narratives to understand and explore how burnout is experienced, navigated and resisted. It explores the emotional and professional toll of working within academic systems that frequently demand more while offering less support - conditions that leave even the most accomplished women struggling to sustain their wellbeing.

Both critical and hopeful, the collection highlights strategies for recovery, resilience, and protection. Contributors reflect on mentorship, care-centered and collective approaches to scholarship, the complexities of motherhood and resistance practices. Together, these perspectives form a vital intervention in conversations about academic labor, mental health, race and gender.

Surviving Burnout in Academia is essential reading for researchers and students in social psychology, organizational psychology, mental health, and race and gender studies as well as speaking directly to academics, higher education leaders and those pursuing scholarly careers committed to fostering more equitable and humane academic environments.