Burnout among educators and health-care workers in Canada
ABOUT THE REPORT
The report presents data from MHRC's partnership with Pollara Strategic Insights for a qualitative initiative and national polling project titled "Understanding the Mental Health of Canadians through COVID-19 and Beyond”.
The study revealed that some employment sectors are more prone to burnout during the pandemic despite increased attention to workplace mental health. Many Canadians continue to struggle with anxiety and depression, which are exacerbated by work-related issues.
Health-care workers and education professionals are among the most affected. This qualitative study provides context and recommendations based on 42 interviews conducted with Canadians employed in these sectors, recruited from the online survey administered by MHRC.
One in three working-age Canadians experience burnout, which can result in physical and mental health issues and decreased job performance.
Health-care and education workers have faced unique challenges related to the pandemic, contributing to higher than average levels of anxiety and depression. Addressing burnout requires identifying and addressing the root causes of workplace stress, promoting work-life balance, and providing resources for stress management, resilience building, and mental health support.
Key findings:
Health-care and education sectors experienced a lack of resources and additional workloads during the pandemic and post-pandemic, with health-care workers working extended hours and educators adapting to online learning.
Health-care workers and educators are more likely to suffer from burnout than the national average, with factors such as staff shortages, fear of catching COVID-19, and a lack of control over work environments contributing to increased mental health challenges.
Only a small percentage of health-care workers and educators have sought mental health care in the past two years, with financial concerns, wait times, and lack of knowledge about where to access these supports being common barriers.
Systems within these sectors must support employees beyond promoting mental well-being, provide ample time for addressing mental health concerns, and provide clear information about the resources available to support staff in accessing the help they need.
Despite this, many have shown remarkable resilience and dedication. Employers should take concrete steps to support the mental health of their essential workers to prevent burnout and ensure high-quality care and education.
A collection of our previously released research briefs providing an in-depth investigation of our polling results can be found here.