Providing Support for Worker Mental Health | Mental Health | CDC
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Work-related stress can affect well-being.
Managers and supervisors can play a big role in reducing and preventing job-related stress.
Changing workplace policies and practices is the best way to address the mental health of workers.
There are healthy ways to cope to reduce your stress in the workplace.
Work-related stress can affect worker well-being, the care and services given to others while on the job, and the well-being of loved ones outside of work. Symptoms of stress can include:
Feeling irritated, angry, or in denial
Feeling uncertain, nervous, or anxious
Feeling helpless or powerless
Lacking motivation
Feeling tired, overwhelmed, or burned out
Feeling sad or depressed
Having trouble sleeping
Having trouble concentrating
Know about burnout:
Workers experiencing burnout often feel exhausted and cynical. Burnout is a long-lasting state that can seriously impact workers’ abilities to respond to normal life activities adaptively and effectively, in and outside of work.1 Working in a distressing environment can strain a person’s physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Workers with burnout are more likely to experience mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Burnout can also impact employee retention. Workers experiencing burnout may be less engaged at work and choose to leave their job or their profession altogether.
Changing workplace policies and practices are the best way to address burnout.
Managers and supervisors can play a big role in reducing and preventing job-related stress. Burnout can develop when workers have too many demands that require effort and not enough resources to meet those demands.
Managers and supervisors can use a Total Worker Health® approach to implement policies, practices, and programs. A program to reduce work-related stress might include:
Implementing organizational and management policies that eliminate the root causes of stress, such as excess demands or workplace bullying.
Implementing policies that provide workers with increased flexibility and control over their work and schedules.
Providing training for supervisors on strategies to reduce stressful working conditions.
Providing training and interventions to help manage and reduce stress for all workers.
Providing access to Employee Assistance Programs.
Preventing burnout among public health workers
Providing services to the public can be demanding and stressful. CDC has an online training for public health supervisors and managers to learn strategies to prioritize employee health and well-being and prevent burnout.
Learning to cope in a healthy way can also help reduce stress in the workplace. Workers can:
Communicate with your coworkers, supervisors, and employees about job stress.
Talk openly about how job stress is affecting your well-being.
Identify factors that cause stress and work together to identify solutions.
Ask about how to access mental health resources in your workplace.
Identify and accept those things that you do not have control over.
Take breaks during your shift to rest, stretch, or check in with supportive colleagues, coworkers, friends, and family.
When away from work, get exercise when you can. Spend time outdoors either being physically active or relaxing. Do things you enjoy during non-work hours.
Learn other healthy ways to cope with stress, including taking care of your mind and body.
If you want more information on coping with stress:
May 12, 2026
Content Source:
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
ReferencesCDC. (2023). Module 1 Outline: Series Overview – Burnout and Public Health Workers. Retrieved September 20, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/learning/publichealthburnoutprevention/module-1/outline.html