'Organisations must recognise that the problem of employee mental health and psychological distress is not diminishing'
Employers across Australia have been reminded that the issue of mental health is "not diminishing" as a new survey showed that burnout continues to impact the mental health of workers.
Findings from the Leading Mentally Healthy Workplaces Survey Report revealed that 46% of employees reported experiencing burnout in 2024, up from 44% in 2022.
"These findings make it clear that organisations must recognise that the problem of employee mental health and psychological distress is not diminishing," said Dr. Kim Hamrosi, Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Mental Health Alliance Australia, in a statement.
"Indeed, there is a troubling increase in psychological injury claims, burnout and mental health issues, particularly among young people."
Burnout is characterised by symptoms such as physical and mental exhaustion, detachment from work, cynicism, and feelings of inefficiency, according to the report.
"Our survey found the likelihood of burnout is significantly predicted by an employee's perceived control over their work, changes at work, and emotional and mental experiences at work," the report stated.
According to the report, there were higher rates of burnout among respondents who reported work as their stressor (69%). This is also the case for:
"Burnout is also more likely among employees who identified their work and mental/emotional health as stressors," the report stated.
"Each employee in the mental/emotional health plus work stressors category had an estimated average of 38.5 days of presenteeism per year, demonstrating reduced performance."
Overall, the report found that poor mental health is experienced by younger employees, as well as those who are mainly onsite, and those who identify as non-binary or gender diverse.
By position, employees and supervisors are more likely to be in poor mental health than those in executive leadership, according to the report.
Despite this, the report found that 58% of employers are actively investing in mental health policies, while 50% are creating a culture where it's safe to speak up.
It also discovered strong commitment from organisations (64%) and managers (65%) when it comes to mental health and wellbeing.
"While these efforts are making a positive impact, there are still opportunities to turn these intentions into everyday experiences," the report stated.
