The Games Industry HR Summit placed the mental health of HR practitioners themselves as a key topic. The 2026 Mental Health Report released at the event showed that 44% of surveyed HR professionals met the criteria for clinically significant depressive symptoms, compared to 18% in the general population.
The report, conducted by Ultimate Resilience among over 3,000 HR professionals, stated that HR personnel are 2.5 times more likely than the general population to experience clinical depression and anxiety; 62% of respondents believed they were "very likely" approaching burnout, with another 12% considering themselves at risk.
Excessive workload, poor management, and lack of support were cited by respondents as the main sources of stress. Only 13% felt well-supported in their roles, while 38% were considering leaving the HR industry. Sarah Brewster noted that layoffs, closures, bullying, harassment, and employees' personal crises also place an emotional burden on HR professionals.
Sarah Venables, with 25 years of HR experience, also shared her personal story. Changes in the work environment, managerial scrutiny, and lack of feedback gradually eroded her confidence; she was diagnosed with major depression in 2019 and took four months off work. She urged peers to identify signs of anxiety, low self-confidence, and depression early and seek help. Both speakers recommended building protective mechanisms through self-awareness, peer networks, and formal employer support, emphasizing that seeking help is not a sign of failure.