Breaking the Silence: Addressing Mental Health Challenges in HR with Dr. Jo Burrell

The HR Uprising Podcast

Lucinda welcomes returning guest Dr. Jo Burrell, a clinical psychologist and co-founder of Ultimate Resilience. They delve into the alarming findings of the latest HR Wellbeing Report, which reveals that nearly half of HR professionals are experiencing clinical levels of depression, significantly higher than the general population.

With over 1,400 respondents, the report highlights a stark disparity between the mental health struggles faced by HR professionals and the support they receive. Jo discusses the importance of open conversations about mental wellbeing in the HR field, the need for systemic support such as supervision, and practical tips for building resilience.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The recent HR wellbeing report revealed that 44% of HR professionals meet the threshold for clinical levels of depression, which is 2.5 times higher than the general population. Additionally, 63% are likely experiencing significant symptoms of burnout.
• Despite the high levels of suffering, only 13% of HR professionals reported feeling very supported at work regarding their mental wellbeing. This indicates a significant gap between the mental health challenges faced and the support available.
• There is a "conspiracy of silence" surrounding HR wellbeing, where professionals feel they cannot express their struggles. Encouraging open discussions about mental health and creating a supportive environment is crucial for addressing these issues.
• Setting clear boundaries between work and personal life is essential for preventing burnout. HR professionals need to be assertive in protecting their time and wellbeing, which includes disconnecting from work after hours.

BEST MOMENTS

"What we found was 44% of respondents meeting the threshold for clinical levels of depression, which is two and a half times higher than we would expect to see in the general population."

"There's a big disparity between the level of suffering and the degree of support that's available for people."

"I think there's been a lack of acknowledgement that this has become a profession that is incredibly challenging."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The HR Uprising Podcast | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher

The HR Uprising LinkedIn Group

How to Prioritise Self-Care (The HR Uprising)

How To Be A Change Superhero - by Lucinda Carney

HR Uprising Mastermind - https://hruprising.com/mastermind/

www.changesuperhero.com

www.hruprising.com

Get your copy of How To Be A Change Superhero by emailing at [email protected]

Dr Jo Burrell - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dr-jo-burrell-04901a96

ABOUT THE HOST

Lucinda Carney is a Business Psychologist with 15 years in Senior Corporate L&D roles and a further 10 as CEO of Actus Software where she worked closely with HR colleagues helping them to solve the same challenges across a huge range of industries. It was this breadth of experience that inspired Lucinda to set up the HR Uprising community to facilitate greater collaboration across HR professionals in different sectors, helping them to ‘rise up’ together.

“If you look up, you rise up”

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