DPF Award 2025: L'Burn wins with an innovative approach to burnout in women

Marie Melikov - Senior Program Manager of Degroof Petercam Foundation

Vanessa Speleers - Junior Program Manager

The French non-profit organization L'Burn has been named the winner of the seventh Degroof Petercam Foundation Award (DPF Award). Following a rigorous selection process, an independent jury chose L'Burn from four finalists.

The award includes a €1 million grant over five years, which the organization can use without restrictions. In addition, L'Burn will gain access to the expertise and network of the Degroof Petercam Foundation.

This prestigious recognition will allow L'Burn to expand its operations and support even more women experiencing burnout, ensuring their smoother social and professional reintegration.

Anne-Sophie Vives, founder of L'Burn, shared: “Winning the DPF Award is a major milestone for L'Burn. This support enables us to further develop our franchise model, marking a significant turning point for our organization. Moreover, through the Foundation’s network and the Degroof Petercam group, we can increase our visibility. With this award, we hope to explore expanding our initiative into Belgium. Together, we can change the lives of many women and contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable society.”

Burnout: a taboo subject and a growing social problem

Burnout is on the rise across Europe. According to a 2024 INAMI report¹, sick leave in Belgium due to burnout and depression increased by 43% between 2017 and 2022. Two-thirds of those unable to work due to burnout are women. In France alone, nearly 2.5 million people will suffer from burnout². At European level, 28% of people are at risk of burn-out³.

Several risk factors contribute to this growing issue, including economic instability, evolving work structures, and an increasingly fast-paced lifestyle, leading to physical and mental exhaustion. The problem is worsened by weakened support systems, such as reduced family and social networks, and the fragmentation of traditional family structures. Both men and women are affected by these changes.

Burnout takes a severe human toll. On average, individuals suffering from burnout are unable to work for nearly 18 months. Of those who return to work, more than 40% relapse within two years, and 92% continue to struggle with cognitive impairments, extreme fatigue, and physical ailments.

The financial cost is also immense, with long-term medical expenses and loss of productivity placing a burden on society. In single-parent households, financial insecurity further exacerbates the impact on both parents and children.

Despite its recognition by the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout is still not officially classified as a disease in Belgium and France. This lack of recognition leads to delays in diagnosis and treatment, further complicating the issue. The annual cost of burnout to European society⁴ is estimated at €240 billion.

From personal experience to the first association for women with burnout

In 2018, while working as a notary, Anne-Sophie Vives experienced burnout. She found support through a Facebook self-help group she founded, "Les BURN’ettes", which connected women facing similar struggles. The group quickly became a safe space for women to seek emotional and professional support, often unavailable through employers or social services. Through this online community, she also sought to raise awareness about the issue, which remains taboo and is worsened by workplace and family inequalities.

By March 2019, L'Burn was officially established following discussions among Les BURN’ettes members, researchers, and burnout professionals. The organization took its mission further by developing tailored support programs to address the specific needs of women experiencing burnout. L'Burn is also actively involved in research, recognition, and prevention of burnout.

Today, L'Burn operates with a team of nine employees and a wider ecosystem that includes health professionals, a scientific committee, and a community of peer caregivers—former beneficiaries who now support others. The organization focuses on three main areas:

Providing direct support to women facing burnout

Raising awareness about burnout and its causes

Training companies and local authorities to recognize early signs and respond effectively

Why L'Burn won the DPF Award

The DPF Award jury selected L'Burn for several key reasons. Firstly, the organization addresses an innovative and urgent issue: L'Burn is the pioneering organization focused exclusively on addressing burnout among women. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of affected women has skyrocketed, with no signs of slowing down. Numerous reports highlight the prevalence of this issue across various social and professional groups.

The jury was also particularly impressed by L'Burn’s peer support model. This approach not only empowers women to become helpers themselves but also drives systemic change, especially when former beneficiaries become ambassadors within their own companies. To date, L'Burn has received over 300 applications from former beneficiaries who wish to establish local branches to support other women in need.

Why are women more prone to burnout?

Burnout, whether work-related or parental, disproportionately affects women. A 2020 survey conducted by L'Burn’s scientific committee revealed that 91% of respondents attributed their condition to gender-specific factors. These include workplace and family inequalities, undervaluation of female-dominated professions, mental workload, exposure to gender-based violence, and the struggle to balance work and family life, especially for mothers. Single mothers are particularly vulnerable: in France, 85% of single-parent households are headed by women.

This gender disparity was also evident in The LAB, a 2024 initiative by the Degroof Petercam Foundation that explored the balance between work and parenthood in Belgium. During a large-scale public consultation in June 2024, 87% of respondents were women, underscoring the importance of this issue to them.

While L'Burn welcomes men in need of support, the overwhelming demand from women has led the organization to prioritize them. However, its initiatives ultimately benefit society as a whole.

Anne-Sophie Pype, Managing Director of the Degroof Petercam Foundation

Promising partnership

Anne-Sophie Pype, Managing Director of the Degroof Petercam Foundation, concluded: “We are proud to support L'Burn in its mission to assist individuals battling burnout and to facilitate their social and professional reintegration. L'Burn’s innovative approach and commitment align perfectly with our Foundation’s goal of promoting sustainable employment and social inclusion.”

A prestigious award

L'Burn joins the prestigious list of DPF Award winners: Réseau Etre (2024), Rura (ex-Chemins d'avenirs) (2023), Activ'Action (2022), Ticket for Change (2021), Bayes Impact (2020) and DUO for a JOB (2019).

¹ National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance

² According to the 2023 barometer from the Empreinte Humaine firm produced by Opinion Way.

³ The number of people affected by burn-out varies greatly depending on the source, due to the lack of scientific consensus on the concept of burn-out and the absence of institutional recognition.

⁴ European Agency for Safety and Health at Work report from 2014.