On October 2nd, Critical Path Security’s Patrick Kelley will lead an important session at the Cooperative Technology Conference in Indiana, tackling a topic that hits close to home for every cybersecurity professional: mental health in cybersecurity.
The Pressure Cooker of Cybersecurity
This industry doesn’t come with an off switch. Teams are understaffed, under-resourced, and often left to carry the weight when high-profile technology projects falter. The result is a cycle of overwork, constant vigilance, and mounting pressure that fuels burnout.
Burnout and Imposter Syndrome
Kelley’s session, “Utilizing the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory – Cybersecurity Version,” will address how burnout and imposter syndrome intersect. Many in our field feel that stress is theirs alone to manage, but burnout isn’t about weakness—it’s about conditions that force people beyond sustainable limits.
He will outline how frenetic burnout takes hold when ambition collides with shrinking resources, and why those who care most deeply about their work are often at the greatest risk.
The Human Cost
The talk will go beyond stress to examine the deeper ties between trauma and burnout. Skills that make strong defenders—hypervigilance, pattern recognition, resilience—can also become vulnerabilities under prolonged stress. Burnout doesn’t just affect one person; it spreads across teams, driving mistakes, frustration, and turnover.
Building Better Coping Mechanisms
Too often, cybersecurity culture leans on unhealthy outlets like alcohol to cope with relentless pressure. Kelley will encourage professionals and leaders to rethink how they recover, whether through journaling, restorative time off, or simply allowing space for the mind to reset. An efficient team is a well-rested team.
Measuring What Matters
Perhaps most importantly, the session will introduce the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory – Cybersecurity Version (CBI-CS), a tool designed to quantify and track burnout in meaningful, non-punitive ways. By translating stress into clear metrics, organizations can identify trends early, justify resources, and build stronger programs around defender wellness.
Looking Ahead
The Cooperative Technology Conference is about sharing knowledge that makes a difference. On October 2nd, Patrick Kelley will bring the conversation about mental health in cybersecurity to the forefront—because protecting critical systems starts with protecting the people who defend them.