Burnout, Bullsh*t and the Real Reason People Are Quiet Quitting

Mental Health Awareness Week won’t fix what your culture’s been breaking all year.

This week marks Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK, taking place from 12 to 18 May 2025.
The theme is Community—but let’s not sugar-coat it.

People are not OK.

They’re showing up. They’re replying to emails. They’re in the meetings.
But inside? They’re numb. Burned out. Disconnected.

Not because they’re weak.
But because too many systems, managers, and government policies are quietly breaking them—and blaming them for it.

The Numbers Are Shocking. The Silence Is Worse.

• 91% of UK adults have experienced high or extreme stress
• 65% reported burnout in 2024
• 1 in 5 have taken time off due to mental health struggles

This isn’t about “resilience.” This is structural, cultural—and political.

Quiet Quitting. Wellbeing Washing.

People aren’t quitting their jobs.
They’re quitting effort. Quitting emotional investment and quitting caring.

That’s quiet quitting—and it’s everywhere.

At the same time, we have companies posting #MentalHealthAwareness content on LinkedIn while rewarding the people who burn out silently and never speak up.

Companies that genuinely care see increased performance.
Companies that pretend to care see increased absence, disengagement, and quiet exits.

You can’t fake culture. And you definitely can’t fake community.

Who’s Responsible for Mental Health?

I ask this in almost every workshop.

Most people say, “It’s on me.”

But while the UK government is being criticised for targeting disabled people and those with mental health conditions through benefits reform and work capability assessments, what message are we actually sending?

That people are the problem?

We’re breaking people and then blaming them for being broken.

Meanwhile… Across the Pond

Donald Trump is back in the news. And whether you’re fascinated or fatigued, he sparks emotion.

He’s a reminder of just how mentally exhausted people are, with politics, instability, social noise, and global stress piling on top of everyday pressures.

This isn’t just burnout. It’s emotional shutdown.

What I’m Hearing on the Ground

In two recent NHS stress awareness webinars I delivered, one session had over 160 leaders sign up. What did they say?

“The pressure is relentless.”
“It’s hard to look after yourself when you don’t feel in control of anything.”

These aren’t isolated stories.
This is what’s really happening—across roles, industries, and teams.

Would You Know What to Say?

If someone had a nosebleed, you’d know what to do.
A headache? Easy. “Take five, have some water.”

But what if someone said:

“I feel completely overwhelmed.”
“I don’t know how much longer I can take this.”

Would you know what to say?
Beyond “Have you spoken to your GP?”—would you know how to support them?

That’s the gap.

And it’s not just a UK problem. I recently watched a CBS Miami piece about Mental Health First Aid—described as “CPR for the mind.” It’s state-funded. On mainstream TV. Proactive. Practical.

And the good news? There’s funding available right here in South Yorkshire through the South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority (SYCMA) for this kind of training.

If you want to know more, message me—I’m happy to share the details.

5 Things Every Organisation Probably Knows But Isn’t Doing

Now, I know you’ve seen lists like this before.
And I know most people will skim this and carry on.
But if you won’t take action, pay it forward.
Send this to someone who might.

1. Train managers in real mental health first aid
2. Stop glorifying overwork as loyalty
3. Create safe spaces for real conversations
4. Audit workload and expectations—not just KPIs
5. Lead with action, not performance

Final Thought

Mental Health Awareness Week isn’t a marketing moment.
It’s a reality check.

If your culture is causing burnout, no campaign will be enough to fix it.
But action can.

I work with HR-led organisations that want to move from awareness to actual change.
Let’s build something that doesn’t just look good on LinkedIn—let’s make it real.

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #BurnoutCrisis #DisabledVoicesMatter #WellbeingWashing #LeadershipUnderPressure