More than one third of working Canadians are feeling burnt out: study
A new study shows, nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, more than a third of working Canadians say they feel a sense of burnout.
“We’re basically designed to handle acute, short-term stressors,” says Halifax-based psychologist Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley.
“We’re not great at these kind of chronic, long-term stressors.”
The research, which was commissioned by Workplace Strategies for Mental Health, points to five industries experiencing burnout at a higher rate than the national average.
- Health and patient care: 53 per cent
- Transportation: 40 per cent
- Finance, legal and insurance: 39 per cent
- Education: 38 per cent
- First responders: 36 per cent
“The elements that are usually present with burnout are emotional exhaustion,” says Mary Ann Baynton of Workplace Strategies for Mental Health.
“That we just become more cynical about people, and that our productivity and our performance is affected at work.”
The numbers are more alarming within health and patient care. Mental health professionals reported a burnout rate of 61 per cent and nurses 66 per cent – statistics the president of the Canadian Nurses Association calls “staggering” but not surprising.
“Before the pandemic, nurses were already reporting that they were having symptoms of burnout,” says Tim Guest.
“Throughout the pandemic we’ve just seen a significant deterioration of that.”
So what can be done to treat burnout?
“Part of the intervention and the evidence-based intervention is that the antidote to burnout isn’t rest,” says Dr. Lee-Baggley.
“It’s actually re-igniting a sense of meaning and purpose and reconnecting with things that are important.”
Baynton says the key is to find things that “fill you up” and then purposefully add them into your life.
“You won’t want to, because you’re trying to hard just to keep up,” says Baynton.
“But take that step back, and start to look for who and what can give you energy.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.