Signs of Burnout
By Sara Camilleri LMSW
Initial Publication Date: April 04, 2025
For many, the mental health impacts related to their work last beyond the hours of their workday. During the global COVID-19 pandemic, an existing and somewhat common symptom of work related stress was brought to the forefront of conversation: Career Burnout. It left many people wondering: What is it? Why does it happen? What can we do about it?
Is Career Burnout a new topic?
Ultimately, no. Burnout is not a new topic. In fact, there are decades of research about workplace related burnout. It is possible that we have been encouraged to talk about it more however on a social level due to collective experiences in recent years. Talking and discussing experiences of burnout, for some, can help normalize the stress related to work or a specific job.
What is Workplace Burnout?
Burnout is a term classified in the International Classification of Diseases as follows:
“Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions:
feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion;
increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one's job; and
reduced professional efficacy.
Burn-out refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life.”
Is there such a thing as Personal Burnout?
Yes! Caregiver burnout is an example of personal burnout. This type of burnout is not specifically related to a job or employment but rather often comes with the stress associated with providing care for a loved one such as children, vulnerable adults or elderly persons. Personal burnout can present similarly in symptomology and can lead to mental health conditions such as depression. If you are struggling with this, professional support such as a therapist may be able to help you navigate the unique complexities that often come with personal burnout.
Where can I find more information about burnout in the workforce?
The National Alliance on Mental Illness has conducted surveys about burnout in the workforce and its impacts on mental health for the last two years. They provide resources for creating a Stigma Free Workplace and ways to improve workforce culture around the issue of burnout. Here are two takeaways from the 2024 NAMI Workplace Mental Health Poll:
“Half (52%) of employees reported feeling burned out in the past year because of their job, and 37% reported feeling so overwhelmed it made it hard to do their job.”
“62% of the employees who reported feeling uncomfortable sharing about their mental health also felt burned out because of their job.”
How can I help my coworkers with reducing burnout?
Leaders, Supervisors and Managers have a unique opportunity to acknowledge and support employees with stress in the workplace. This can look like reviewing policies related to taking breaks throughout the work day or empowering self care. While creating a work environment that promotes healthy habits is not solely the responsibility of executive staff nor Human Resources at any organization, acknowledging, modeling and encouraging a healthy work-life balance can impact the wellness of the agency. For more information about the intersection of ethics, self care and supervision, consider my published article related to the social work profession here.
What can I do about my burnout?
Coping with the symptoms of occupational or personal burnout can be very difficult. Sometimes there are no clear answers to the causes of burnout. For example, with career burnout, financial stability is often a complicating factor to making changes. Additionally, there may be systemic impacts that are out of your control. Similar barriers can exist for those struggling with burnout related to their personal life. For example, caregiver burnout can be incredibly stressful and also very difficult to navigate both emotionally and logistically. Coping with burnout is more than just taking time off and participating in self care. For many, getting professional help to process the emotional turmoil that comes with occupational or personal burnout as well as figuring out a plan for moving forward may be necessary.
Sand River Therapy can help! You don’t have to do this alone. There are many therapeutic strategies that can help you with however burnout may be affecting your life. Use the contact form here to schedule a free consultation to discuss your unique situation.
Sources:
American Psychological Association. (2023, May 12). Employers need to focus on workplace burnout: Here’s why. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/healthy-workplaces/workplace-burnout#:~:text=Mindy%20Shoss%2C%20PhD%2C%20professor%20of,the%20rise%20in%20many%20workplaces.%E2%80%9D
The 2024 nami workplace mental health poll. NAMI. (n.d.). https://www.nami.org/support-education/publications-reports/survey-reports/the-2024-nami-workplace-mental-health-poll/
World Health Organization. (2019, May 28). Burn-out an “Occupational phenomenon”: International Classification of Diseases. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases#:~:text=Burn%2Dout%20refers%20specifically%20to,well%2Dbeing%20in%20the%20workplace.