About this resource
Stress is a response to pressure; burnout is exhaustion that builds when pressure continues without enough recovery. This handout explains common signs, factors that contribute at work and in life, and practical recovery steps, including when to seek help.
Purpose
To help people recognise burnout and take steps towards recovery.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Psychologists. Also relevant for counsellors and therapists, allied health and multidisciplinary teams.
Client or participant group: Adults experiencing work or caring stress.
Practice setting: Psychology, employee assistance and health settings.
Suggested uses
- Psychoeducation
- Employee assistance
- Carers
- Health professionals' wellbeing
Instructions for practitioners
- Link to the client's own experience.
- Consider workplace as well as individual factors.
- Screen for depression and anxiety where indicated.
- Plan practical recovery steps.
Instructions for clients or participants
- Read the handout.
- Tick signs you notice.
- Choose a recovery step.
Accessibility considerations
Plain language. Can be read aloud.
Scope and limitations
General psychoeducation. It is not a diagnosis.
Research basis
Burnout reflects mismatches between people and their work demands, and is addressed through both organisational and individual strategies. Relaxation training, including breathing and muscle relaxation, reduces anxiety across a range of groups.
- Manzoni, G. M., Pagnini, F., Castelnuovo, G., & Molinari, E. (2008). Relaxation training for anxiety: a ten-years systematic review with meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry, 8(1), 41. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244x-8-41
- Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced.
