Work Could Take Your Life"…Why is "Burnout" dangerous

Studies have shown that excessive work can have a fatal impact on mental health. It is a diagnosis that the risk of suicide can be increased in the case of burnout syndrome (hereinafter referred to as burnout), which can occur if you are too immersed in work.

Burnout literally refers to a pathological sign of feeling extremely fatigued and lethargic, such as fuel that was too absorbed in work and suddenly burned out at some point. Exhaustion due to exhaustion of physical and emotional energy, cynical attitudes toward work and work, and decreased job efficacy appear.

Studies of health care workers have already pointed out that burnout can increase the risk of suicide. However, there has been no investigation on the correlation between burnout and suicide risk in various occupational groups other than health care.

In response, a research team led by Professor Oh Dae-jong of the Corporate Mental Health Research Institute at Gangbuk Samsung Hospital, Professor Jeon Sang-won and Cho Sung-joon of the Department of Mental Health, investigated whether there was a significant connection between burnout and suicide accidents among office workers in various occupations.

Between 2020 and 2022, the research team conducted a self-question survey of 13,000 workers, including manufacturing, financial service distribution, construction, and public administration using mental health promotion services for workers, and investigated burnouts and suicide accidents.

According to the survey, office workers with physical and mental exhaustion among burnouts increased the risk of suicide accidents by 77% even if they did not have depression. It made 8 out of 10 ordinary people think of suicide.

In office workers with depression, the risk of suicide accidents was increased by 36%. Depression patients are more likely to have suicidal accidents even if there is no burnout. If burnout is added to this, the likelihood of an accident increases by 36%.

In addition, among office workers who are exhausted, the risk of suicide accidents is higher if they cannot control their own duties or if the atmosphere in the workplace is not favorable.

Oh Dae-jong, a professor at Gangbuk Samsung Hospital's Corporate Mental Health Research Institute, said, "For office workers who have exhausted their physical and mental energy, it is necessary to observe whether the risk of suicide increases regardless of whether they are depressed or not."

"This study is significant in that it is the first large-scale cross-sectional study to confirm the link between burnout, depression and suicide accidents in various occupational groups," he said. "The suicide prevention policy targeting the working-age population could suggest a direction for the future."

Korea ranks first in suicide rates among 42 OECD member countries, and working hours are also the highest (195 hours per year). According to data released by the National Statistical Office in 2021, suicide is the number one cause of death in Koreans in their teens and 30s and the number two cause of death in their 40s and 60s. It is analyzed that there will be a high causal relationship between the high suicide rate and long labor because people in their teens and 60s are concentrated.