Burnout in health care - Some facts & figure

Mental health professionals

Psychiatrists reported burnout, threat of severe burnout, depression and mental disorder more commonly than other physicians
(Korkeila et al. 2003: Postal survey among registered physicians in Finland (n=3133)

Psychiatrists reported less often self-perceived “good” or “rather good” health
(Korkeila et al. 2003: Postal survey among registered physicians in Finland (n=3133)

Mean emotional exhaustion score community psychiatric nurses and social workers among exceeded threshold for burnout syndrome; mean derpersonalisation scores signalled burnout for psychiatrists, CPWs, and SWs
(Priebe et al. 2005: Survey of 90 mental health professionals working in the community in London, UK)

50% of nursing staff at 11 acute units in the UK showed signs of high burnout in terms of emotional exhaustion; higher stressor score were related to higher levels of depersonalisation
(Jenkins & Elliot, 2004: Survey among nurses at acute adult mental health units in the UK (n=93)

The highest suicidal tendencies among male physicians occur in psychiatrists.
(Olkinuora et al., 1992, survey among registered physicians in Finland, n=2600)