DCCS Resource Centre
Looking After Your Mental Health at Work
Work can provide purpose, structure and connection, but sustained pressure, uncertainty or conflict can also affect mental health. Coping matters, but personal resilience cannot correct an unhealthy working environment on its own.
Recognise workplace stress early
Warning signs can include dread before work, difficulty switching off, irritability, disturbed sleep, reduced concentration, physical tension and feeling that ordinary demands are unmanageable. Notice changes from your usual pattern rather than waiting for complete exhaustion.
Burnout is not simply tiredness
Burnout develops in the context of prolonged workplace stress and can involve exhaustion, cynicism or detachment and reduced effectiveness. A weekend off may not resolve a pattern driven by excessive workload, lack of control, unclear expectations, conflict or values mismatch.
Build practical resilience
Resilience includes recovery, flexibility and access to support. It is not endless tolerance of pressure.
- Prioritise the work that has the greatest consequence
- Clarify expectations and deadlines
- Use short breaks before attention collapses
- Maintain connection with supportive colleagues
- Protect sleep, movement and time away from work
Set workable boundaries
Decide what availability your role genuinely requires and communicate it clearly. Reduce unnecessary after-hours checking, separate the workspace from rest where possible and avoid treating every request as equally urgent. Boundaries are more effective when paired with honest conversations about workload and resources.
When to seek support
Speak with a manager, occupational health service, GP, employee assistance programme or counsellor when difficulties persist or significantly affect your wellbeing or functioning. Counselling can help you understand the pattern, strengthen coping and make clearer decisions about what needs to change.