Google searches for burnout symptoms hit record high in 2026, data reveals
Related terms climbed too, with “exhaustion symptoms” up 150%, “stress symptoms” up 140%, “burnout symptoms NHS” up 130%, and “stress” up 100%.
Research from MyHealthPal found Google searches for “burnout symptoms” in the UK peaked in spring 2026, hitting a level of 100 on 30th March and staying high through April and May.
Related terms climbed too, with “exhaustion symptoms” up 150%, “stress symptoms” up 140%, “burnout symptoms NHS” up 130%, and “stress” up 100%.
The findings showed more workers were looking for answers about stress, fatigue and burnout, linked to ongoing economic uncertainty and workload pressure in 2026.
Mental Health UK’s burnout report 2026 found 91% of UK adults had high or extreme stress in the past year, and one in five workers took time off for stress-related mental health.
Only 17% of those returning after sick leave got a formal plan to help them back, meaning 97 in 100 had no structured support for burnout recovery.
Nearly two in five aged 18–24 took stress-related sick leave, with workload, unpaid overtime, job insecurity, and workplace isolation named as main causes.
35% of workers did not feel comfortable talking about stress with managers, while only 27% thought mental health was prioritised in their workplace.
29% said employers raised awareness, but managers lacked time and resources to give proper support.
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