9 Worst Jobs for Mental Health — and What to Do Instead

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Did you dream of being a firefighter or nurse as a kid? If you didn’t end up living out your childhood fantasies, it may have been for the best.

The harsh truth is that these jobs—and many others—can wreak havoc on your mental health.

Ditch these burnout careers for ones with a healthier work-life balance:

1. Veterinarian

Working with animals may sound like a fun job, but being a veterinarian is much more challenging than most people realize. According to the Centers for Disease Control, veterinarians are up to 2.4% more likely to take their life than the general population.

NPR reports this is often due to high stress and feelings of burnout commonly associated with working in the veterinary field. Vets are responsible for euthanizing animals in some situations, which has a significant mental toll, unfortunately leading many to take their own lives.

Instead: Wildlife Rehabilitator

Wildlife rehabilitation is an excellent alternative to traditional veterinary work. It allows you to care for animals in a less intense and emotionally exhausting setting. Job duties within this line of work range from caring for injured wildlife to educating the public about wild animals.

2. Nurse

Nursing is an incredibly undervalued industry, and workers feel the effects. A 2023 survey of 7,000 nurses by McKinsey & Company found 64% reported feeling “a great deal” of job-related stress, while 56% experienced signs of burnout like anxiety.

Nurses often work long hours and must care for many patients because hospitals are perpetually understaffed. If you’re considering becoming a nurse to help others, you can’t overlook the reality that they’re often underpaid and exhausted, both physically and emotionally.

Instead: Radiology Technician

If you still want to work in healthcare, consider becoming a radiology technician. These specialized technicians operate X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs.

They usually work closely with radiologists and physicians to provide diagnoses and treatment plans. Being a radiology technician eliminates much of the direct patient care aspect of nursing that contributes to job fatigue.

3. Emergency Responder

Studies show that 30% of emergency responders develop conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression—roughly 10% higher than the general population. Police officers, firefighters, and other first responders handle severe emergencies daily.

Over 80% will experience some form of trauma while working due to being put in dangerous and potentially life-threatening situations. As a result, many emergency responders report feeling depressed, anxious, and abusing drugs or alcohol.

Instead: Emergency Manager

Working in emergency management keeps you in the same field as first responders but is much better for your mental health. According to Columbia Southern University, emergency managers do everything from developing response procedures to conducting training programs. Rather than being the first people on the scene of an emergency, they operate on the backend to ensure those responding are as good at their jobs as possible.

4. Social Worker

The majority of social workers—nearly 52%—report suffering from mental health issues during their careers. Social work can be an incredibly demanding profession, as it often involves helping people who are facing problems like unemployment, addiction, or life-altering medical conditions. While the ultimate goal is to help their client live their best possible lives, this can have significant physical and emotional effects on the social worker.

Instead: Grant Writer

Grant writing could be the perfect alternative if you want to make a difference. The purpose of a grant writer is to create a persuasive proposal to secure funding for a project.

Many grants aim to address local or global social issues, while others are educational or research-focused. Grant writers work with many individuals, businesses, and philanthropic organizations and are continually developing their speaking and writing skills.

5. Crime Scene Investigator

While being a crime scene investigator may sound exciting and interesting, it’s far from how TV shows portray it. These investigators work closely with law enforcement to gather evidence that helps solve crimes of various natures.

As some of the first people on the crime scene, they regularly work in traumatic, potentially harmful situations. Working as a crime scene investigator requires long hours and exposure to gruesome criminal acts, which not everyone can handle.

Instead: Forensic Scientist

You can still help solve crimes without being at the actual crime scene. Consider becoming a forensic scientist if you’d prefer to work in a laboratory environment processing evidence.

Forensic scientists analyze crime scene findings by conducting tests and examinations. They play an essential role in the justice system by taking an unbiased, scientific approach to studying various pieces of evidence.

6. Psychologist

We often see therapists, psychiatrists, and counselors as people with no personal struggles or mental health issues. Sadly, this is far from the truth—in 2022, 47% of psychiatrists reported burnout.

Helping others work through various psychological disorders is tiring and leaves little room for the mental health professional to address their struggles. Psychology Today reports that many psychologists fail to seek help for fear of being judged or shamed by their coworkers and patients.

Instead: Coach

Coaching is a similar profession that doesn’t require a license or certification. Many turn to life coaches for career guidance, relationship advice, and support to achieve personal goals.

As a coach, you can positively impact your clients’ lives without delving into their mental health issues. It’s also much easier to start coaching, which has no formal education requirements.

7. Teacher

Teaching is a notoriously underpaid profession, resulting in high rates of stress and anxiety. Many teachers face massive workloads, lack of funding, and understaffing, making it difficult to do their jobs well. Educating children of any age can be challenging—in fact, K-12 teachers are reportedly the most burnt-out workers in the U.S.

Instead: Corporate Trainer

Those passionate about education should pivot to corporate training opportunities. Instead of teaching children in a school environment, corporate trainers work with career professionals.

As a corporate trainer, you may work at one company or travel around to educate employees at different companies. While training adults presents unique challenges, you’ll have a much better work-life balance than teaching K-12.

8. Lawyer

If you’re concerned about your mental health, you may want to reconsider being a lawyer. As of 2023, over 71% of lawyers experience anxiety, and nearly 16% have considered taking their own life.

Balancing work and personal interests while working in law is incredibly challenging due to the intense workload and long hours. Over 68% of lawyers report struggling to put their job stress aside at the end of the day, making it nearly impossible to focus on your life outside of work.

Instead: Law Librarian

Working as a law librarian is one option to stay in the legal field without being a lawyer. These specialized positions exist in more places than you may realize, from schools to private firms and corporate offices.

Law librarians are responsible for researching and analyzing materials used in legal cases, professional training programs, and educational curriculums. They often work closely with attorneys, though some positions don’t require taking a state bar exam.

9. Chef

Your mental health may suffer if you become a professional chef. In a 2024 survey of 140 chefs conducted by Cozymeal, 44% said working in a restaurant negatively impacted their mental health, with a staggering 70% reporting job-related anxiety.

Restaurant culture can be toxic, with hectic schedules and high expectations. Chefs can feel immense pressure to perform at their best despite operating in chaotic, stressful environments.

Instead: Hospitality Manager

Hospitality management work is an excellent alternative within the food and drink industry. In this position, you’ll oversee the daily operations of a hotel, restaurant, or hospitality business.

Responsibilities range from hiring and training staff to managing budgets and addressing customer concerns. Hospitality managers can help cultivate positive and encouraging work environments, which can benefit mental health.

Are you interested in becoming a freelancer?

Many are switching to freelance roles for their flexibility and remote work opportunities. These freelance jobs are easy but pay surprisingly well.

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