More than a third of all Canadians are reporting burnout, this according to a survey conducted in December by Mental Health Research Canada
Results are being released on the day known as Blue Monday, which is often referred to as the most depressing day of the year.
The national average for burnout is 35 per cent, but there are five industries reporting rates above that.
Health and patient care (53 per cent)
Transportation (40 per cent)
Finance, legal and insurance (39 per cent)
Education and childcare (38 per cent)
First responders (36 per cent)
66 per cent of nurses reported burnout, with mental health professionals close behind at 61 per cent.
“The number of Canadians reporting burnout is cause for concern,” said Mary Ann Baynton, Director of Collaboration and Strategy, Workplace Strategies for Mental Health. “It’s not surprising though – considering we’re once again faced with extreme uncertainty as the pandemic rollercoaster continues. For so many of us, anxiety and exhaustion are at an all-time high.”
“While the signs and symptoms of burnout may vary”, says Baynton, “Burnout is often characterized by emotional exhaustion, cynicism, negativity and reduced efficiency in the workplace. It’s more prevalent in employees who set high expectations for themselves, have unreasonable demands placed on them or feel unappreciated for their efforts. While not considered a mental illness, burnout can be debilitating and long-lasting. That’s why prevention and mitigation strategies are so important.”
Also, according to the study, few working Canadians feel they are receiving enough support from their employer, with only a third of respondents indicating their company is committed to a low stress environment.
