Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Break Down Which Jobs Have The Worst Mental Health Impact

A man kneeling down with his head in his hands.
man on thinking pose
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Reddit user VenkyFromAnakapalli asked: 'Which job has, hands down, the worst impact on mental health?'

Make us preferred on Google

Job hunting can be an almost intolerable challenge, no matter the climate or market.

As a result, many people might settle for a job that pays the bills, even if it isn't exactly their dream position, or, in extreme cases, goes against their normal morals and ethics.


Tempting as a sizable paycheck may be, sometimes people realize far too late that taking a job purely for the paycheck isn't worth the toll it may take on their mental health and well-being.

As almost their entire paycheck might end up going to therapy bills for all the trauma caused by their job.

A recent Redditor was curious to hear which jobs and professions take the biggest toll on one's mental health and well-being, leading them to ask:

"Which job has, hands down, the worst impact on mental health?"

Surrounded By Trauma

"Any job where every day you are constantly being exposed to other peoples trauma."

"Second hand trauma day in and day out wears on mental health."- WishfulEgalitarian

Protection In Name Only

"I have a friend who works for CPS."

"You wouldn't believe the number of times she's tried to get a child taken out of a horribly abusive home."

"But the case falls through because the police won't provide a detective who is good with children then the child won't repeat accusations for official testimony."

"It's gotta be up there with first responders."- cockOfGibraltar

It Takes A Special Kind Of Person

"It’s not the worst (see: First Responders and, apparently, veterinarians) but being an inner-city public school teacher broke me."

"Look, again, not as bad as those others but I’ve seen and read enough that my decade in has been enough. I paid for one of my student’s lunches because she was pregnant and couldn’t afford school lunch, seen brutal fights that have ended with hospitalization, and have also been hospitalized due to breaking up fights."

"You see kids fall through the cracks in the system to never be seen again."

"My first year, a few of us teachers started a 'club' that would have lock-ins at the school because some of the kids needed a place to get food, get clean, and be away from the danger of home."

"I’ve never played more Monopoly in my life or eaten more Papa John’s, and I really didn’t like doing it, but it was worth it at graduation when one of my students that never missed Club thanked me."

"I still cry about it."

"I’m crying now."

"There were amazing positives."

"I have a few students that are now doctors that were once told that they would never graduate."

"Getting kids who couldn’t read at the beginning of their freshman year to graduate with a full ride to college is a feeling that I can’t really compare to anything."

"But, at the end of the day, the lows are too low."

"I left the first school that I taught at six years ago because we had an 'incident'.

"I should have left then, but I thought it would get better, that I could handle it all."

"I can’t."

"I’m tired."- classroomcomedian

Almost Literally Selling Your Soul...

"Mine doesn't deserve top ten, but I worked at a payday loans place for a few months."

"If that didn't feel like legally working for the devil, I don't know what does."- Nobanob

Delivering News No One Wants To Hear...

"My dad is an oncologist."

"He handles it well but that has to be up there."

"Every time you meet a new patient it’s during one of the worst (if not THE worst) time of their lives."

"And it’s up to you to break it to them/their families if the toxic treatment you have been administering is working or if they should give up hope and get their affairs in order."

"On top of that you have them attending appointments telling you the kind of toll the cancer is taking on their marriage (SO MANY people walk away from their 'beloved' partner of 30 years rather than support them through this) not to mention their finances."- f*ckandfrolic

First To Respond Sometimes Still Isn't Fast Enough

"First responders will eventually watch a person die right in front of them more than likely."- Vegan-Kirk

Who Actually Enjoys Cleaning?

"Crime scene cleanup."

"The smells, blood, lots of blood, feces and urine."

"Having to pull all carpet, pad and scrubbing subfloors."

"High probability of bio illnesses/bio hazards (blood/airborne pathogens)."

"100% will affect a sane person."- Tacos_always_corny

With Some Challenges Come Great Rewards

"Social work is challenging."- thewallrus

You Don't Always Get Care In Return When It Giving It...

"Care giver."

"The racist : It’s very hard to go on your day taking care of someone who spits in your face and calls you dirty while you’re trying to help them wash up."

"The way people just die, after you’ve finally had a relationship with them and cared for them for months and how fast that empty bed gets occupied."

"You don’t get any counseling or therapy, but you’re expected to go on normally with your work shift."- NoExplnations

Diving Into The Unkown 24/7

"First responder."

"100%."- Fast-Switch-9578

Saving Our Planet

"Wildland firefighters."

"You work 14 hours days for 2 weeks or more of some of the most physically demanding work anyone can do, usually can’t shower, you’re actively watching nature including all its creatures being burned alive, and possibly watching it destroy peoples homes and lives."

"Not only that but at any moment something can change and you’ll burn alive in the fire too."

"It’s not for the weak of heart, because even those who have the toughest hearts are struggling with depression."- VexxFate

Working In Mental Health Is Bound To Have It's Effects...

"Psychiatric nurse in the psychiatric inpatient hospital."

"In a state prison."

"Dealing with death row inmates."- Amani329

When It's Your Job To Jump Into The Fire

"First responders - police, fire, EMTs."

"I think they see such violence and destruction."

"It would be hard to forget."- Birdy304

Healthcare Was Bound To Come Up...

"Veterinarian! They say you love animals, so you should do everything for everyone for free, or else you’re a villain."

"Don't mind the hundreds of thousands of dollars and eight years of time it took to get there."

"People don’t save for their pets, then we are the bad guys."- extinctplanet

It's Easier To Be Rude To Someone When It Isn't Face To Face

"Call Center Rep."- schweet_n_sour

Be it for money, glory, or love, sometimes, no amount of training or warning can prepare you for what a job truly entails.

And no amount of money, glory, or love is enough to encourage you to stay in that job.

More from Trending

Christina Ricci Just Called Out Jimmy Fallon For Having MMA Fighter Conor McGregor On His Show—And Fans Are Applauding
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images; NBC

Christina Ricci Just Called Out Jimmy Fallon For Having MMA Fighter Conor McGregor On His Show—And Fans Are Applauding

Actor Christina Ricci has joined many others in calling out NBC, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and host Fallon for booking and broadcasting an interview with controversial Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor.

McGregor has faced over 20 criminal charges over the course of his career, including assault, disorderly conduct, driving offenses, and rape.

Keep ReadingShow less
Markwayne Mullin; members of Team USA celebrate a goal
Alex Wong/Getty Images; Jamie Squire/Getty Images

DHS Hit With Blunt Reality Check After Tasteless 'Our Soil' Post About U.S. Men's World Cup Team

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was called out for its anti-immigration rhetoric and given a reality check by critics after sharing an image of the U.S. men's World Cup team imploring them to "defend the homeland."

DHS shared a post featuring U.S. men’s national team players celebrating a goal from a 4–1 win over Paraguay, pairing the image with the following message:

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Lincoln Memorial Reflectiing Pool
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images; Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty Images

Trump Slammed After He Threatens To Sue ABC News For Their Reporting On Alleged Reflecting Pool Vandalism

President Donald Trump was called out after he threatened to sue ABC News over their coverage of the alleged vandalism at his renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, criticizing the network for failing to report that "Dumocrats" also spent millions on the pool.

The renovation of the Reflecting Pool has become a debacle, marked by recurring algae blooms, workers resorting to pouring hydrogen peroxide into the water to combat the problem, and a political blame game in which some Republicans have attempted to pin responsibility for the mess on Democrats.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Democrats Perfectly Drag Trump With His Own Words After He Claims 'Vandals' Cut Paint Off Reflecting Pool

Democrats were quick to respond with a clip of President Donald Trump's own words after he claimed that "vandals" cut the peeling blue paint from the bottom of his renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

The renovation of the Reflecting Pool has become a debacle, marked by recurring algae blooms, workers resorting to pouring hydrogen peroxide into the water to combat the problem, and a political blame game in which some Republicans have attempted to pin responsibility for the mess on Democrats.

Keep ReadingShow less
Madonna
Theo Wargo/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Madonna Reveals How 'Falling Out' With Studio Got Her Upcoming Biopic With Julia Garner Scrapped

Not all projects are meant to work out, but it's a terrible feeling when they fail because of something like a budget.

While talking with Interview magazine, Madonna opened up about how her biopic, which she'd already spent the past two years writing and developing, and Ozark's Julia Garner was rumored to portray her, was canceled for budgetary reasons.

Keep ReadingShow less