Burnout, Mental Health, and Wildfire Recovery for BC’s Tourism Industry

Beyond Burnout: Supporting BC Tourism Through Recovery

It’s been a demanding summer for BC’s tourism and hospitality industry. Between packed patios, full rooms, staffing challenges, major events, and the added stress of wildfires and smoke, many workers and leaders have been under constant pressure. It’s no surprise that burnout is affecting so many people. Recovery takes time, and both workers and leaders have a role to play in supporting it.

For Workers: Recognizing Burnout and Knowing What to Do

A difficult summer can leave a mark long after conditions improve. Recognizing the signs of burnout in yourself is the first step toward addressing it.

Signs to watch for in yourself

• Feeling drained even after time off
• Trouble concentrating or making decisions that used to feel easy
• Increased irritability, cynicism, or dreading shifts you used to enjoy
• Trouble sleeping, or physical symptoms like headaches and tension
• Pulling away from coworkers or friends

What you can do

Burnout can take time to recover from, and it isn't something you have to work through on your own. If you're noticing these signs, consider taking steps to get support and create space for recovery.

• Talk to someone you trust. This could be a supervisor, coworker, friend, or another person in your support network. You don't have to carry it alone, and reaching out can be an important first step.
• Use grounding strategies when you feel overwhelmed in the moment. These won't resolve burnout, but they can help you manage stress in the short term. Try box breathing (in 4, hold 4, out 4, hold 4), a body scan (tense and release your shoulders, jaw, and fists), or running cold water over your hands.
• Make space for rest and recovery. Recovery isn't a straight line, and it may take more than a single break or day off. Where possible, give yourself opportunities to step back, rest, and recharge without treating rest as something you need to earn or accomplish.
• Seek additional support if you need it. If burnout is affecting your ability to work, sleep, connect with others, or manage day-to-day life, consider reaching out for professional or workplace support. Explore go2HR's worker resources hub, which includes mental health information built specifically for tourism and hospitality workers.

For Leaders: Supporting Your Team Through Recovery

Managers and supervisors play an important role in preventing and addressing burnout. Creating a respectful workplace where people feel safe, heard, and supported can help protect mental health, reduce the risk of burnout, and make it easier for employees to recover when they are struggling.

-Build Everyday Check-In Habits

A quick check-in can make a real difference. If you notice signs like withdrawal, irritability, or increased mistakes, ask how they’re doing, listen, and help connect them to support. A quick team debrief after a shift to share what was challenging and what went well can also help everyone process the day and create closure before heading home.

-Supporting Your Team During Wildfire Stress

Wildfires can pose physical and psychological risks, especially for employees working outdoors or moving between indoor and outdoor spaces. go2HR’s Mental Health Support Resources for Wildfires one-pager brings together free, practical resources you can share with your team or post in the break room, keeping support visible and accessible when it’s needed.

-Watch for signs of fatigue and burnout

Changes in mood, more errors than usual, withdrawal from coworkers, or increased irritability can all be signs that someone is struggling. go2HR's Fatigue & Burnout Assessment Checklist for Supervisors offers a practical way to spot early warning signs and respond.

-Be flexible where you can

Some employees may need temporary schedule or workload adjustments. Where possible, flexibility shows staff that their wellbeing matters. go2HR’s Health & Safety team offers free, one-on-one support with outdoor work schedules, emergency response plans, and other safety concerns, including changing air quality.  Book a free consultation when you need support.

-Build a psychologically healthy workplace for the long term

Recovery from peak season is a good moment to look at the bigger picture of psychological health and safety in your workplace. go2HR's guide on creating a psychologically healthy workplace walks through a practical framework for building a more resilient, respectful workplace year-round.

Supporting mental health after a difficult peak season takes intention, both for individual workers and for the workplaces around them. Prioritizing psychological safety now helps build a more resilient, respectful industry going forward.