World Mental Health Day 2024: Preventing Burnout

World Mental Health Day 2024

October 10th is World Mental Health Day 2024. Every year, the World Federation for Mental Health builds the day around a different theme. The theme for 2024 is:

“It’s time to prioritise mental health in the workplace.”

In support, we’ve put together a guide on burnout – the state of complete physical, emotional and mental exhaustion more of us are experiencing. It covers how burnout starts, its symptoms and ways to prevent it.

When is World Mental Health Day 2024?

World Mental Health Day 2024 is on October 10th, the same date as the very first event in 1992.

The event has grown since its inception. It’s now recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and leading mental health charities, although the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) still sets the annual theme and aims.

World Mental Health Day 2024

The theme for World Mental Health Day 2024 is: “It is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace.

WFMH stakeholders chose this world mental health day theme because work-related stress is one of the most urgent mental health issues we face today.

We spend more time working than any other activity. Many of us are also under increased economic pressure, which means we literally can’t afford to slow down.

And despite the Covid-19 lockdowns offering a “reset” for some, the relief was short-lived.

According to Mental Health UK, almost a quarter of UK adults feel unable to manage stress levels, with fears over job security a leading cause. Moreover, around half of all employed adults say there’s no support system in place at work.

This combination of increased stress with underwhelming support has left many workers facing burnout.

Mental Health Awareness Training

Our Mental Health Awareness Training course develops an understanding of common mental health issues. It explores how and why people might suffer from poor mental health and the ways we can improve and protect our mental wellbeing.

What is Burnout?

Burnout is an “occupational phenomenon” (a term coined by WHO).

This definition marks burnout as something separate from a medical condition. Instead, it’s a set of consistent symptoms linked to a specific cause – stress. Despite this relationship, stress and burnout are distinct.

Stress is a temporary response to extreme pressure or a perceived threat. In small doses, it can be motivating, and most of us can push through stressful times with support and self-care.

But sudden trauma or constant exposure to difficult conditions can push stress levels beyond what we can handle. It’s at this point that stress becomes burnout, and we become unable to function or imagine things improving.

What Causes Burnout?

Any source of constant stress can trigger burnout, such as the demands of being a parent or full-time caregiver, but it’s most closely associated with work.

Poorly designed or managed work creates the perfect conditions for burnout. It constantly throws unrealistic demands at you while denying you time to mentally and physically recover. Struggling at work can also make you feel like your job’s at risk, which often triggers feelings of despair and self-loathing.

And to make matters worse, burnout at work is self-sustaining. As pressure mounts, your resilience and energy drain, and it becomes harder to stay on top of things. Without support or a change in circumstances, you’ll eventually be unable to manage. This is why it’s essential to spot the signs of burnout early.

What the Law Says

Work-related stress is a recognised health hazard, so employers have a duty to manage it as they would any physical danger.

This process starts with a stress risk assessment – a careful analysis of workplace stressors and how they might harm employees. From this assessment, employers must then take steps to eliminate or control sources of stress. Common control measures include:

  • Matching work demands to an employee’s experience and knowledge
  • Giving employees more control over the way they work
  • Supporting workers through significant changes to their role
  • Allowing flexible work arrangements

Employers should also be aware of signs of stress so they can spot employees who are quietly struggling and offer them support as soon as possible.

What are the Symptoms of Burnout?

The most consistent symptoms of burnout are a sense of hopelessness and total exhaustion on a physical, emotional and psychological level. Other symptoms can also be categorised along these lines.

Physical Symptoms

  • Feeling constantly tired
  • Struggling to sleep
  • Headaches
  • Sickness or nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • High blood pressure

Prolonged stress also weakens immune systems, so people experiencing burnout are more susceptible to colds, flu and other general illnesses.

Emotional Symptoms

  • Self-doubt
  • Feeling lonely or detached
  • Feeling demotivated or overwhelmed
  • Feeling dread or worry
  • Being quick to anger or overly irritable
  • Losing interest in hobbies or previously enjoyed activities
  • Losing a sense of pride or satisfaction in work

Everyone experiences these symptoms occasionally. They need to be consistent and unmanageable to indicate burnout.

Psychological/Behavioural Symptoms

  • Procrastination
  • Losing the ability to focus
  • Self-medicating with food, alcohol or drugs
  • Withdrawing from people and responsibilities

Why is Burnout a Concern?

Although burnout isn’t a medical disorder, it’s closely linked to chronic physical and mental health conditions.

Stress should be temporary. Living under its effects day after day is utterly draining, and it limits our ability to fight off infections, repair cells and regulate bodily functions. Chronic stress can be a precursor to obesity, gastrointestinal problems and cardiovascular disease, among other conditions. It can also trigger or worsen other mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety and personality disorders.

Burnout also has consequences for employers.

Employees suffering its effects will be unmotivated, unproductive and prone to absenteeism.

Employers must also protect staff from harm at work. Forcing employees to endure stressful conditions without support is like denying a construction worker a hard hat or steel-toe boots. It’s a failure to comply with health and safety legislation, and there are legal consequences.

Why is Burnout a Concern

How Can You Prevent Burnout?

To prevent burnout, you need to manage stress.

Stress affects everyone differently, so there’s no single solution. But if you feel work is an area of concern, there are a few options to explore.

Take Breaks

Feeling stressed at work can keep you glued to your desk, convinced that if you let up for even a second, things will spiral out of control.

In reality, the opposite is true. Regular breaks are necessary to work your best. They help you focus, create and problem-solve.

For every 90 minutes of work, try to take a 10-minute break away from your desk, computer or station.

Plan Your Day

Looming deadlines are a common source of stress. Time management can help you fit everything in without exhausting yourself. (Provided your employer isn’t asking too much.)

Time management is a skill that needs to be learned. You can start by assessing each task and organising them by urgency. Determine what needs to happen now and what can be done later.

Focus on the highest-priority tasks and schedule other less-urgent work for later, then stick to your plan. Don’t hop between activities (a habit known as switchtasking), as this only loses time.

Communicate

Talk to someone if you’re struggling at work. Speaking to a sympathetic colleague or loved one helps us reframe and process our own emotions. But don’t feel like you have to exclusively talk about your problems. A friendly chat is a great distraction and mood booster.

Also, talk to your line manager if you can’t keep up with professional demands. They should be able to offer support and work with you to find a way forward.

Switch Off

Your work and home life should be separate, but boundaries get blurred if your kitchen table is also your desk.

If you work from home, it’s important to separate your workspace from your living space. Set up a dedicated workstation and keep set hours, just like you would at the office.

Everyone should switch off their phones and ignore emails outside of work hours. It can even be helpful to hide devices (out of sight, out of mind).

Mental Health Courses

World Mental Health Day 2024 is raising awareness of mental health at work because it’s a growing issue.

If you’re looking for practical solutions to improve mental wellbeing in your workplace, we offer a range of online Mental Health Courses designed to help individuals and teams recognise and manage mental health challenges. These courses provide:

  • Tools to recognise early signs of stress before they escalate
  • Techniques for managing workplace pressures
  • Guidance on creating a supportive environment

Start prioritising mental health at work. Equip yourself or your team with the skills to manage stress and promote a healthier workplace.

About the author(s)

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Jonathan Goby

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