BRISTOL Central’s MP Carla Denyer has won praise for her decision to take leave of absence to recover from burnout.
Ms Denyer, who was elected as the city’s first Green MP in 2024, said she wanted to be honest about her “incredibly difficult” decision, taken on the advice of her doctor, while also stressing that her constituency team would continue to support residents while she was away.
In a statement issued on May 22, she said: “I want to be open about the fact that what I am suffering from is burnout – and the mental and physical symptoms that arise from it. Burnout is a condition that does not tend to get better on its own. If left unmanaged, it can worsen and increase your risk of long-term health problems.
“This is something that I know will be familiar to many people in all walks of life, especially those working in high-stress environments and in people-facing professions such as nurses, teachers and social workers. But it is also something that too often is not openly discussed. I hope that by sharing my own struggles, I can help in some small way to combat the stigma around it and contribute to a more open conversation.”
Ms Denyer, who has been active in public life for more than a decade as a councillor and a spell as her party’s national co-leader, praised Labour’s Nadia Whittome, who made a similar move for her health’s sake in 2021.
While her decision attracted some criticism and derision online, Ms Denyer also received messages of support from people in Bristol and further afield.
Stephen Williams, Lib Dem councillor for Westbury on Trym and Henleaze and a former MP for Bristol West, said: “ Being an MP is a largely unrelenting 24/7 role, split across two locations with multiple competing demands. It can take its toll on anyone, and if you are determined to do it well, which applies to Carla, then the regime can be really punishing. It’s also hard to do everything (including much of your private life) in the public eye, with the pressure of often unrealistic or unfair expectations, while under assault from ‘social’ media.”
Brian Dow, Chief Executive, Mental Health UK: “Left unchecked, sustained and severe stress can pose a huge threat to our health, but stigma means many people try to cope on their own. Burnout is not something you can push through, it’s a significant health issue that requires recognition and support. Carla is not alone, and her openness about her experience of burnout will hopefully encourage others to prioritise their health. We wish her all the very best in her recovery.”
‘Burnout’ is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an ‘occupational phenomenon’. Burnout is a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. It can occur when you experience long-term stress and feel under constant pressure.
According to Mental Health UK, levels of stress remain extremely high among adults in the UK with 91% report high or extreme levels of pressure or stress in the past year.
According to recent reports, it’s estimated that 65% of UK workers feel burnt out. This is 11% higher than two years earlier, showing it’s becoming increasingly common.
One in five needed to take time off in the last year due to poor mental health caused by pressure or stress.