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UK Business Leaders Health and Wellbeing Study 2023
commissioned by The Dawn Rehab Thailand
What’s the true cost of success? And are we paying for it with our health?
Around a third of The Dawn’s UK clients are high-earning, high-powered C-suite executives, professionals and business owners, who are seeking help with mental health conditions – including burnout and addiction.
On the surface, these men and women ‘have it all’ – yet often they are struggling internally, feeling under immense stress and experiencing depression and anxiety. We wanted to delve deeper into the health and wellbeing impacts of having a seemingly successful, top-of-one’s-game career.
So we conducted a United Kingdom nationwide study of 1,000 individuals working in senior level roles, including C-level executives, chairpersons and MDs, earning annual salaries of £75k and over.
The sobering results reveal the true cost of a high-flying career on health and wellbeing – with more than half of execs suffering panic attacks and anxiety, and over a third using recreational drugs at least once a week.
The study surveyed*…
- Gender-wise: 46% men, 54% women.
- Age brackets: 18-24 (4%), 25-34 (11%), 35-44 (58%), 45-54 (23%), 55 and over (4%)
- Salary breakdowns: £75,000-£124,999 (54%), £125,000-£199,999 (14%), over £200,000 (32%).
*Survey undertaken by Pollfish.
Read on for the UK Business Leaders Health and Wellbeing Study 2023 full report, featuring detailed information and data insights on how UK business leaders are really feeling. Plus advice on how to identify and deal with burnout from a Senior Therapist on The Dawn’s clinical team.
A spotlight on the mental health of CEOs...
More than two thirds of C-suite executives said they suffer with work-related stress, and over half (54%) have experienced burnout or exhaustion - with 16% taking up to three months off work as a result.
More than half (54%) cited regular anxiety and panic attacks and 47% reported physical symptoms such as heart palpitations and headaches brought on by work stress.
29% said they'd had suicidal thoughts.
Three quarters of executives surveyed reported suffering from depression, with 34% experiencing severe depression..
ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE, AND OTHER 'COPING' BEHAVIOURS
More than one third 35% of high earners in C-suite roles said they’d experienced alcohol misuse or problems with alcohol consumption – this rises to 47% of those earning £200,000 a year or more and 52% of all 45-54-year-olds surveyed.
Around 2/3 (64%) of 45-54-year-olds admitted to drinking during the working day, with 55% of the same age group saying they drink alone.
46% of respondents have used gambling to cope with work stress.
63% reported overeating or bingeing rising to 77% for men.
57% have used shopping to cope with work stress.
44% have used sex to cope with work stress, with female 44% execs 22% more likely than men
Recreational drug use is highest among 45-54-year- old executives.
55% said they take drugs such as cannabis and cocaine more than once a week, with 54% taking them when stressed.
57% admitted to taking them during the working day.
IMPACT ON RELATIONSHIPS AND LIFE OUTSIDE WORK
87%
A huge 87% of respondents said work-related issues had a negative impact on their personal life.
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A huge 87% of respondents said work-related issues had a negative impact on their personal life.
Half of those surveyed recognised they’re not always ‘present’ with family.
For 41% of respondents, work-related issues led to the breakdown of their relationship with their spouse or partner.
Around one in three (30%) said work-related issues had broken relationships with friends and family.
Nearly two thirds (61%) are worried about further, lasting damage to their relationships.
SEEKING HELP
85%
Reassuringly, 85% of executives have sought help for the effects of work- related stress, consulting their GP or a healthcare professional. Half of them being prescribed medication and therapy.
19%
However, almost one in five (19%) said they haven’t shared their problems with anyone else, with 54% of those worried about damaging relationships and 47% concerned they may lose their job if they admit to mental health issues.
WIDESPREAD MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES — BUT STILL NO REGRETS?
A vast majority of 86% of top-paid execs believe that issues such as stress, depression, anxiety, burnout, drug and alcohol misuse are ‘common’ within their industry and among high-earners.
Despite the heavy impact of their jobs on health and relationships, only 39% say they regret the career path they’ve chosen. Just over half (52%) say they dream of ‘giving it all up’ and living a simpler life with less money and less stress.
SPOTTING SIGNS OF BURNOUT
Certified Addiction Treatment Professional (IC&RC UK&Europe) and a Senior Therapist on The Dawn’s clinical team, Alexandria Barley advices on how to spot signs of professional burnout, and recommended next steps for sufferers:
“When a person is suffering burnout, they are usually at a point where they are no longer able to function in an efficient way in their personal and professional lives. Even though there’s no defining moment when a person is ‘hit’ with burnout, the human body flashes many warning signals including:
Chronic exhaustion
Distinct from ordinary feelings of tiredness, exhaustion from burnout doesn't go away after a period of rest. Starting to lose motivation to work, or thinking, "what's the point?", can be serious indicators of professional burnout.
Changes in mood
Burnout sufferers may notice themselves arguing with friends, family and colleagues more often. Note this is not about having a bad day, or even a bad week. It's a persistent quality that develops as stress accumulates.
Decreased effectiveness at work
Unsurprisingly, feelings of exhaustion and mood changes often have a negative impact on performance, creativity and judgement at work. As professional burnout intensifies, cognitive efficiency also deteriorates.
Physical symptoms
A lot of people will experience unexplainable aches and pains. Other common symptoms include loss of appetite and insomnia.
Alexandria Barley, Senior Therapist at The Dawn
Alex says: "So many of us go after the familiar definition of success - the impressive career, picture- perfect home life and generally a sense of 'making it'. Yet we're only human, and sometimes it's impossible to achieve everything - pushing harder and harder is only likely to have negative consequences."
"Burnout is best treated in the long term by avoiding the problem of overwork - which can seem far easier said than done for those in the middle of it. It can be helpful to explore the source of negative feelings towards work – for example, being weighed down by responsibility and the need to constantly 'perform', or feeling misaligned with company values. For severe burnout cases, a combined approach incorporating effective, psychological therapy, alongside wellness activities, can often help achieve recovery much more quickly."
