Exploring post-pandemic burnout and mental health among healthcare workers in India: a narrative review on prevalence, risk factors and impact

Akhila Ganta; Vijay R. P. Patlolla

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20260732

Authors

Akhila Ganta Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Lincolnshire, UK
Vijay R. P. Patlolla Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Lincolnshire, UK

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20260732

Keywords:

Burnout, Healthcare workers, Mental health, India

Abstract

Healthcare workers are essential to any health system, but often they face high levels of burnout and mental health issues. In India, problems such as workforce shortages, overworked health systems, and long hours could make it even more challenging. This narrative review looks at evidence about burnout, depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep problems among Indian healthcare workers and how these issues affect their daily lives and healthcare services. We conducted a thorough search for studies on this topic from January 2020 to January 2026 using PubMed and Google Scholar. The results show that a significant number of Indian healthcare workers experience burnout and have reported higher rates of anxiety and depression. Studies indicate that post-pandemic rates are increasing, causing a significant mental health burden and worsening health care delivery. Burnout is often linked to medical errors, lower-quality care, decreased life satisfaction, absenteeism, and workforce loss. Various factors can contribute to burnout, including individual circumstances, work conditions, institutional support, and cultural effects. Key contributors to burnout were found to include younger age, female sex, longer working hours, poor infrastructure, and mental health stigma. This review emphasizes the need for comprehensive strategies to support the mental health of India’s healthcare workers. Interventions should occur at multiple levels, including mental health screenings, well-being programs in healthcare institutions, workforce expansion, and digital mental health resources.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Kesarwani V, Husaain ZG, George J. Prevalence and factors associated with burnout among healthcare professionals in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Indian J Psychol Med. 2020;42(2):108-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_387_19

Batanda I. Prevalence of burnout among healthcare professionals: A survey at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital. NPJ Ment Health Res. 2024;3(1):16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44184-024-00061-2

Teo SM, Moore S, Rao S. The paradox of care: Burnout among healthcare workers. Public Health Rev. 2025;46:1609096. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/phrs.2025.1609096

Central Bureau of Health Intelligence. National Health Profile 2023. Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. 2023. Available at: http://cbhidghs.mohfw.gov.in/publications/national-health-profile. Accessed on 12 January 2026.

Sinha S, Chaturvedi S, Srivastava R, Shukla S, Sharma S. Burnout among mental health professionals in India: A qualitative enquiry. Ann Neurosci. 2025;09727531251327477. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/09727531251327477

World Health Organization. Burn-out an "occupational phenomenon": International Classification of Diseases. 2019. Available at: https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases. Accessed on 12 January 2026.

Sharma P, Davey A, Davey S, Shukla A, Shrivastava K, Bansal R. Occupational stress among staff nurses: Controlling the risk to health. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2014;18(2):52-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5278.146890

Mathias EG, Anupama DS, Phagdol T, Nayak BS, Nagaraja R, Dickson K, et al. Impact of COVID-19 on mental health among healthcare workers in India: A mixed-methods systematic review. Oman Med J. 2023;38(5):e544. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2023.111

Suryavanshi N, Kadam A, Dhumal G, Nimkar S, Mave V, Gupta A, et al. Mental health and quality of life among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Brain Behav. 2020;10(11):e01837. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1837

Sidiq M, Ch SJP, Janakiraman B, Chahal A, Khan I, Kaura S, et al. Burnout experience among healthcare workers post third COVID-19 wave in India: Findings of a cross-sectional study. PeerJ. 2024;12:e18039. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18039

Maheshwari A, Srivastava A, Sreenivasamurthy L, Manohar KN, Srivastava S, Prabhu M, et al. Assessment of burnout among healthcare practitioners in India: A survey-based nationwide study. J Assoc Physicians India. 2025;73(7):29-36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.59556/japi.73.1036

Rotenstein LS, Torre M, Ramos MA, Rosales RC, Guille C, Sen S, Mata DA. Prevalence of burnout among physicians: A systematic review. JAMA. 2018;320(11):1131-50. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.12777

Kaushik A, Ravikiran SR, Suprasanna K, Nayak MG, Baliga K, Acharya SD. Depression, anxiety, stress and workplace stressors among nurses in tertiary health care settings. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2021;25(1):27-32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijoem.IJOEM_123_20

Chellaiyan VG, Nirupama AY, Ravivarman G. Burden of sleep deprivation among healthcare professionals in India: The SNORE study. Indian J Psychiatry. 2025;67(3):333-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_14_23

Kaur J, Upendra S, Barde S. Prevalence and factors associated with the poor quality of sleep among Indian nurses. J Educ Health Promot. 2024;13:288. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_1557_23

Nehru S YR, P S, A S, Angeline AK. Burden of poor sleep quality, stress, anxiety, and depression among staff nurses working in tertiary hospitals of Puducherry: A pilot study. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2025;12(7):3276-82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20252129

Mental Health First Aid India. India's mental health landscape 2025: key ground insights. 2025. Available at: https://www.mhfaindia.com/blog/indias-mental-health-landscape-insights. Accessed on 12 January 2026.

Garcia CL, Abreu LC, Ramos JLS, Castro CFD, Smiderle FRN, Santos JAD, et al. Influence of burnout on patient safety: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicina (Kaunas). 2019;55(9):553. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55090553

Papathanasiou IV. Work-related mental consequences: Implications of burnout on mental health status among health care providers. Acta Inform Med. 2015;23(1):22-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5455/aim.2015.23.22-28

Dyrbye LN, Shanafelt TD, Johnson PO, Johnson LA, Satele D, West CP. A cross-sectional study exploring the relationship between burnout, absenteeism, and job performance among American nurses. BMC Nurs. 2019;18:57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-019-0382-7

Pei P, Lin G, Li G, Zhu Y, Xi X. The association between doctors’ presenteeism and job burnout: A cross-sectional survey study in China. BMC Health Serv Res. 2020;20(1):715. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05593-9

Ram D, Mathew A. Mental health challenges among doctors in India: A scoping review of existing research. Indian J Psychol Med. 2025;02537176251349766. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/02537176251349766

Lee SY, Hsu WT, Ho WC, Lin YL, Lin CF, Wang CL, et al. Longitudinal trends in burnout among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A 4-year prospective cohort study in a tertiary medical centre in Taiwan. BMJ Open. 2025;15(11):e095648.

West CP, Dyrbye LN, Erwin PJ, Shanafelt TD. Interventions to prevent and reduce physician burnout: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2016;388(10057):2272-81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31279-X

Rink LC, Oyesanya TO, Adair KC, Humphreys JC, Silva SG, Sexton JB. Stressors among healthcare workers: A summative content analysis. Glob Qual Nurs Res. 2023;10:23333936231161127. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/23333936231161127

Press Information Bureau. Update on National Tele Mental Health Programme [press release]. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Available at: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressRelease Page.aspx?PRID=2199421®=3&lang=1. Accessed on 12 January 2026.

Shah H, Sabhahit GG, Patley R, Hegde PR, S SS, Manjunatha N, et al. A pan India digitally driven capacity building program to strengthen primary mental healthcare: Summary of its implementation and performance evaluation. Indian J Psychol Med. 2025;02537176251358469. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/02537176251358469

Hoeft TJ, Fortney JC, Patel V, Unützer J. Task-Sharing Approaches to Improve Mental Health Care in Rural and Other Low-Resource Settings: A Systematic Review. J Rural Health. 2018;34(1):48-62. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12229

Press Information Bureau. Advancing mental healthcare in India. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Available at: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2100706. Accessed on 12 January 2026.