HR on the Offensive Podcast: Is HR Facing a Silent Mental Health Crisis?
- Felicity Baker
- Aug 4
- 1 min read
The latest HR on the Offensive podcast tackles a pressing but often overlooked question: Who supports the people who support everyone else?
Clinical psychologist and Ultimate Resilience co-founder Dr. Jo Burrell joins Chris Howard to unpack the findings from the 2025 HR Mental Well-being Report, which surveyed nearly 1,500 HR professionals. The results are stark:
44% reported depression symptoms in the clinical range (2.5x higher than the general population)
38% reported clinical-level anxiety (1.5x higher)
63% are likely experiencing burnout
Dr. Burrell explains the driving forces behind what these numbers highlight as a silent HR mental health crisis —from heavy workloads and poor management to the emotional toll of “emotional labour”—and, crucially, offers a three-tier plan for change:
Professional advocacy for formal mental well-being standards in HR.
Organisational support through continuous, clinical-style supervision.
Personal connection by breaking the silence and sharing experiences with peers.
Listen to the episode to hear Jo’s expert insight on how HR can protect its own well-being before burnout becomes the norm.
Or get in touch to find out more about what we are doing at Ultimate Resilience to support HR mental wellbeing.
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