As part of our Mental Health Awareness Series, we’re revisiting a conversation we had about burnout in forensic science (and the workplace culture that quietly normalizes it).

In many forensic units, burnout doesn’t happen all at once. It slowly builds through constant overwhelm, understaffing, lack of recognition, limited growth opportunities, toxic environments, and the pressure to always “push through.”

This conversation explores:

• The five major causes of burnout in forensic work
• Why so many forensic professionals feel like they can never truly “catch up”
• The culture of rewarding overwork and self-sacrifice
• How burnout impacts both personal life and job performance
• The guilt many professionals feel around taking time off
• Why boundaries, rest, and life outside the job actually matter

We also reflect on our own experiences early in our careers... working unpaid hours, constantly being available, learning the hard way that sacrificing every off-duty moment for work doesn’t lead to sustainability.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted, overwhelmed, emotionally detached, or stuck in a cycle where work continuously takes priority over your personal life, this episode will probably feel very familiar.

🎙️ This episode is part of our Mental Health Awareness Series, where we’re revisiting some of the most impactful conversations we’ve had around stress, burnout, trauma, and wellness in forensic science.