This article is featured in The Herald Sun and is republished with permission.
Luxury health retreats are increasingly seeing Australians — from executives to struggling parents — seeking help not for mental health conditions, but due to crippling burnout.
Exhausted mums and even high-flying young professionals are forking out between $6000 and $25,000 to detox from their phones, eat healthy meals, meditate and do music therapy at retreats across Australia.
Owners say that the demand for help with burnout has been rising sharply in recent years and in some cases has become the most common reason people come to them.
But Sara Quinn, president of the Australian Psychological Society, warned it was crucial to take steps to prevent burnout and address the causes because otherwise the cycle would repeat.
“It’s crucial to address any systemic or workplace related factors that may contribute to burnout.” she said.
“That can include things like unrealistic workloads, or lack of role clarity.”
Dr Quinn said retreats could be helpful but additional support was needed.
Mum-of-three Lyndsey Walker said her experience at a burnout retreat was life-changing.
She said running a recruitment agency and raising a family left her excessively fatigued and overly anxious.
“I wasn’t sleeping and I lost a lot of weight,” she said.
The 45-year-old said that, as a highly anxious person, she found it difficult to recharge and would often feel exhausted.
“I had very little patience for my kids … they weren’t getting the best of me,” she said.
Realising her burnout was affecting her relationship with her sons and husband, she decided to check into Samadhi Health Retreat in Daylesford, Victoria.
Funding the stay herself, she said the $4500 price-tag was worth it because it “recharged” her.
“It was an investment in my wellbeing,” she said.
The founders of the Samadhi retreat, Wayne and Annah Mirananda, said that burnout had become the most common issue people needed addressing when they came to see them.
“Everyone is saying they’re burnt out now,” Mr Mirananda said.
He said a comprehensive burnout treatment included a “mentoring coaching person every day”.
Additionally therapy in bodywork, guided meditation, breathwork, somatic awareness (mindful attention to physical sensations within the body) and nature immersion were also included.
He said guests were put on a menu of healthy vegetarian and vegan meals.
“We’ve created a beautiful, very private facility,” Mr Mirananda said.
Ruth Limkin, the founder and managing director of The Banyans Healthcare, situated in the private hinterlands of Brisbane, also said burnout guests had been rising.
The retreat additionally sees people for addiction, mental health issues and eating disorders.
“We’ve seen a really huge increase in the rise of inquiries for burnout,” Ms Limkin said.
She said the most common demographic seeking help was corporate decision-makers aged between 40 and 50 years old.
However, they also saw younger patients, in their 30s, who’d had professional success early.
“They’ve been running so fast, so long, they’re running on empty now,” she said.
Prices for a burnout retreat ranged from $15,000 to $29,000, Ms Limkin said, with workplaces often picking up the hefty cost.
“We see good return on investment for leadership wellbeing interventions, so it makes good business sense for a business to pay for that,” she said.
People might stay as little as five days to two weeks where they would have appointments with psychologists, business coaches and clinical nutritionists.
Equine (horse), arts and music therapy are also available.
Ms Limkin said they had a huge focus on addressing the cause of the burnout so people could avoid it happening again.
“It’s not just about refilling the tank, but helping clients realise how to move forward in a healthy, sustainable rhythm,” she said.
Jackie Durnin, who runs the Hinterland Health Retreat in Montville on the Sunshine Coast, also said that burnout had become a common reason people came to stay with them.
From entrepreneurs and corporates to busy mums trying to do it all, the 48-year-old said she saw a variety of clients suffering from burnout, whose ages spanned between 30 and 70 years old.
Burnout may present differently in each client, with symptoms such as chronic fatigue, exhaustion and brain fog being common, Ms Durnin said.
The retreat offers stays between four days up to 28 days or higher as needed, but most clients opt for a week.
Costs of treatment vary depending on each client’s needs, but seven days generally costs $25,000.
Ms Durnin said they took an individualised approach which could include taking blood samples, stool samples and even a brain scan on day one.
With a chef on site, meals are generally dairy and gluten free, and doctors on site can refine dietary requirements to suit the individual’s needs.
Clients also practice a 48-hour digital detox upon arrival, and then receive access to their phone only once per day, Ms Durnin said.
Ms Durnin said she had brought in technology from the US, called neurotechnology, which is an emerging technology that interacts with or monitors the nervous system.