It’s estimated that 30% of the Australian workforce is feeling some level of burnout. Almost 20% of Australians are diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives. Burnout is marked by helplessness and depression by hopelessness. It is not uncommon for someone to experience both burnout and depression at once. For the right diagnosis, it’s best to speak to your doctor or clinician who can obtain a \”the picture\” of your condition. For non-melancholic depression, clinicians will often recommend antidepressant medication. For burnout, the best strategy is to identify the contributing stressors in the workplace. Taking a break, even a short one, or scheduling some time off can help. Strenuous exercise, meditation and mindfulness are effective ways to deal with everyday stress. The Sydney Burnout Measure was created to assist self-diagnosis and clinicians undertaking assessments. It’s available online at: www.sydneyburnout.org.uk. For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details. In the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255 or visit http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.
