SC launches app to help judges combat burnout

The Supreme Court (SC) launched the "Judicial Burnout Scale" app on May 30, 2025, to help judges identify early signs of burnout and protect the mental health of judiciary personnel.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Associate Justice Mario Lopez, Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the SC Governing Council for Mental Health, launched the application.

The SC emphasized that burnout can negatively impact a judge's decision-making abilities and overall well-being, potentially compromising the justice system's fairness.

Justice Lopez stated that the tool will assist the Court in developing targeted mental health programs and policy reforms.

The application, developed by the SC Governing Council for Mental Health as part of the SC C.A.R.E.S. Program, is inspired by the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey.

It incorporates Filipino cultural values such as hiya (sense of shame), pakikisama (getting along with others), and malasakit (empathy).

The Judicial Burnout Scale is currently available to judges nationwide via a link and can be accessed through Microsoft Power Apps or a mobile browser.

The SC intends to expand the application's availability to all court personnel in the future.