Job Burnout and Suicide

What is job burnout?

It’s normal to feel unmotivated at work from time to time. Job burnout, in contrast, is a state of physical and mental exhaustion related to work.

job-nuronout-and-suicide

What factors contribute to job burnout?

Many factors can contribute to burnout, and they vary from one person to another. Here are some examples:

  • Low self-esteem
  • High self-expectations
  • Perfectionism
  • Difficulty prioritizing tasks
  • Extensive responsibilities outside of work
  • Difficulty delegating responsability
  • A focus on work at the expense of other areas of life (personal growth, activities with family and friends )
  • Difficulty respecting your limits when overworked (accepting all work assigned, bringing work home, etc.).

What are the symptoms of job burnout?

Symptoms of burnout include:

  • Persistent tiredness
  • Frequent insomnia (several nights per week)
  • Difficulty concentrating at work
  • Stomach aches, headaches, dizziness, or heart palpitations
  • More frequent illness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Suicidal thoughts

Are you burned out and having suicidal thoughts?

People who experience job burnout may have suicidal thoughts. If this is the case for you, consult the following sections:

01 Taking stock of your mental health

The first step toward taking back control is identifying what’s causing your suicidal thoughts.

02 Taking care of yourself

There are a number of things you can do to protect yourself and regain your balance when you’re having suicidal thoughts.

03 Talking about it with your loved ones

Asking for help from your family and friends isn’t always easy. There are different ways of going about it.

04 Finding support services

Every day, all sorts of people contact support services to get the help they need.

What to do if you have symptoms of job burnout

Burnout can be treated. If you have any symptoms of job burnout, first call Info-Social at 811, option 2, to discuss your situation with a psychosocial worker and be referred, if necessary, to resources in your area that can provide support.

For an assessment and follow-up with a healthcare professional, consult a general practitioner (your family doctor, for example), a psychologist or contact your local CLSC.

Other resources can help people experiencing burnout.

 

Find resources

Advice for people experiencing job burnout

What I'm going through...