Managing work-related stress and fatigue
This website has a range of information and tools available to support individuals experiencing work related stress and fatigue.
This e-resource page was developed in conjunction with The Royal Womens Hospital, Mercy Health, Melbourne Health, Alfred Health, Albury and Wodonga Health.
Where can I get support?
I need support now
- Contact your General Practitioner or manager to discuss your concerns
- Workplace Employee Assistance Program (EAP) (Barwon Health)
- Lifeline Australia
- Suicide Call Back Service
- Head to Health COVID-19 Support
Expert organisations
These organisations can provide specialist support for people experiencing work-related stress and fatigue and in particular, those working in the healthcare industry.
Beyond Blue provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live.
Black Dog Institute is the only medical research institute in Australia to investigate mental health across the lifespan, their aim is to create a mentally healthier world for everyone. They provide detailed and targeted information about wellbeing for all ages.
PsychEngage is a website that can help you find psychologists suited to helping you manage you wellbeing. You can make a list of professionals who interest you, submit a request for their service and book an appointment when they are available.
Delivering free individual or group peer support to all healthcare workers by matching healthcare workers requesting assistance with dedicated, experienced mental health. Volunteers from a similar field and level of training.
Head to Health has over 750 electronic Mental Health resources from Australian organisations with a wide range of information about anxiety and depression.
Black Dog Institute provides support for staff working in health care settings such as doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists and pharmacists. Their service offers specific support to you profession tailored to issues that can be more likely to arise within your field.
This website has extensive resources on how to recognise, prevent and manage work related stress and fatigue as a health care worker.
Checking in with yourself
Checking in with yourself is a method of staying connected with your feelings and being kind to yourself. The resources below are can help you understand your emotions, tune in to how you feel, practice self-reflection and identify if there are any areas where you may want to focus your attention or to seek support.
Screening Tools
Screening tools are brief psychological tools used to measure an individual’s level of wellbeing and mental health status. These tools are indicative only and are to be taken to mental health professionals for additional support or information if required.
The Black Dog Institute - The Essential Network (TEN)
This series of questions can help you identify signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression. It will provide commonly used coping strategies and direct you to experts who can provide relevant support.
A simple questionnaire to identify potential risk of prolonged fatigue and its effects. This questionnaire can be used to identify if you think you need further support in the workplace.
Resources - Articles and journals
The Black Dog Institute – Self-care plan for Health Care Workers
A self-care plan will identify what nourishes and sustains you, to help you get through challenges and better care for others.
Nurse and Midwife Support – Burnout
This resource has a variety of information on burnout including; definitions, links to health care settings, risks, symptoms and treatments.
DDI world – How to Help Women Overcome Burnout at Work
Useful resource for managers to understand factors contributing to burnout and how to help women overcome this.
Mindtools – Recovering from Burnout
This article investigates what burnout is and the steps you can take to help overcome it.
This article has useful tips to maintain a health and successful career and what you can do to avoid burnout.
Resources - Videos
What are the signs of Burnout?
The Black Dog Institute describes burnout as a combination of emotional exhaustion, negativity, and reduced sense of personal accomplishment. It can occur if you’ve been experiencing persistent and unrelenting stress.
How do I go back to the frontline when it's the last thing I want to do?
Another video resource from the Black Dog Institute which provides practical tips to help healthcare workers manage working on the frontline.
The cure for burnout (hint: it isn't self-care)
You may be experiencing burnout and not even know it, say authors (and sisters) Emily and Amelia Nagoski. In an introspective and deeply relatable conversation, they detail three telltale signs that stress is getting the best of you -- and share actionable ways to feel safe in your own body when you're burning out.
Resources - Apps and interactive learning
Treat
This app is designed for health professionals to help you find calm, clarity and balance during your busy working day.
Insight Timer
Insight Timer was developed to help calm the mind, reduce anxiety, manage stress, and sleep deeply. If offers guided meditations, sleep music tracks and talks led by the top meditation and mindfulness experts, neuroscientists, music tracks from world-renowned artists and information from the world's top university psychologists and teachers.
Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind is a FREE mindfulness meditation app developed by psychologists and educators to help bring balance to your life.
Mentemia
Mentemia helps you identify where you might be struggling, then gives you access to simple, safe and fun exercises to help you thrive. Feel happier, build stronger relationships, learn how to cope with stress, and improve your sleep.
Shift
Shift is a free, easy-to-use app designed to help Junior Medical Officers (JMOs) working in NSW to safeguard their mental health and manage the demands of their profession.
The program is like an interactive self-help book, which you can log back in to at any time to learn more skills and to help users to understand and manage symptoms.
This app is designed to make a positive change in your life with a range of programs. It offers online programs to teach psychological strategies and skills to improve your wellbeing.
This program has been developed specifically for health professionals to reduce the impact of burnout in a way that is sensitive to the unique challenges they face. Available 24/7, access step-by-step guides and advice from peers who have lived through burnout. It includes practical, evidence-based strategies and CBT-based activities to help prevent and minimise the impact of burnout on health professionals. For leaders who are looking for strategies to create mentally healthy workplaces, there is a section that includes strategies on how to support teams and improve the workplace culture.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 19 July 2022