# Is burnout a mental illness?

URL: https://tymirahealth.com/resources/faqs/is-burnout-a-mental-illness
For: Patients | Mental health care | Reviewed by Independent clinical reviewer, Registered mental health clinician, Kenya | Last reviewed 8 November 2026

**Answer:** The WHO describes burnout as an 'occupational phenomenon' caused by chronic workplace stress that has not been managed, not as a medical condition. Signs are exhaustion, feeling distant or cynical about your job, and doing less well at work. Burnout can overlap with depression or anxiety, so if you feel persistently low, cannot sleep or cannot cope, see a health worker. Talking to your employer about workload may also help.

Sources: World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases - World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work - Ministry of Health, Kenya: https://www.health.go.ke/government-launches-national-guidelines-workplace-mental-wellness

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