Understanding the Link between Depression and Burnout at Work

Many people consider their job to be a source of stress, but it can be difficult to measure just how much of an impact that stress has on your mental and emotional health. Can stress at work lead to depression or worsen symptoms you're already feeling? And is there a clear correlation between depression and work performance?

Here's a look at the links between depression and burnout at work and why you should seek treatment for depression, no matter its cause.

Employment is a major component of people's lives, with complex tasks and social situations that allow multiple windows of entry for stress to intrude into people's lives. In the United States alone, 65 percent of surveyed workers report significant job-related stress.

Persistent job stress, as one might imagine, can lead to burnout at work. Characterized by extended feelings of exhaustion, detachment, and reduced accomplishment, burnout is quite common. Recent Gallup research found that 76 percent of Americans feel burned out at work "at least sometimes," while 28 percent feel burned out "very often" or "always."

Both burnout and workplace stress can play significant roles in the development or exacerbation of depression and other mental health conditions.

Workplace stress and burnout can develop from a variety of different causes. No one cause is worse than any other, as everyone experiences stress—and symptoms of depression —differently.

Some jobs are stressful because you're being overworked. Work may leave you constantly physically tired and without the time to practice self-care. These types of jobs can impair your sleep quality, increasing your risk of developing hypertension , diabetes , and cardiovascular disease . Working excessive hours can affect more than just your physical health; it can also be associated with increased anxiety and depression symptoms and overall poorer states of mental health.

Other jobs can be stressful in a different way—from unreasonable time pressures and strict deadlines to high stakes and a general lack of flexibility. These types of jobs and the stress they cause can have a significant negative impact on one's mental health. In fact, one study revealed that people with highly stressful jobs are at twice the risk of developing depression and anxiety as those with less stressful jobs.

Further, depression and work performance are strongly linked. Depression is known to reduce productivity , participation, and performance levels at work, potentially creating a harmful cycle where stress and depression at work compound.

3. Toxic Work Environments

With some jobs, it's not the tasks you perform that are stressful and damaging to your health. Instead, it's the environment and culture you have to navigate on a daily basis that takes its toll. Constant chaos, strained relationships with peers or supervisors, and disrespectful or inappropriate communication can all make a workplace unhealthy. Long-term exposure to and coping with these kinds of environments can contribute to depression.

It can be easy to minimize mental health conditions that are not caused by factors seen as "traumatizing" or "dramatic" enough. However, in reality, the severity of mental health conditions is not determined by what brings them about. Depression associated with work stress or burnout is no less serious than depression stemming from other causes.

No matter what the trigger may be, depression is a clinical condition that should be treated. Antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy are typically the first line of treatment for depression. But if you've tried them and haven't seen the results you were looking for, you may want to consider Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy.

TMS is a non-invasive treatment that uses gentle magnetic pulses to activate specific brain regions involved in regulating mood and emotion. This treatment is effective for 2 out of 3, or approximately 62 percent , of people who haven't benefited from antidepressants.

Many patients report having positive experiences with TMS therapy—in regard to both the treatment sessions and the improvement in their symptoms. Whatever treatment path you choose, remember that you are taking positive steps on your journey to better health.