'Nervous breakdown'

[StigmatisingOrNot]

Question is what does the term 'Nervous breakdown' in terms of the workplace mean or suggest to you?

Outdated and stigmatising, or something else?

Going to buck the trend but as someone who's had a few I really don't like the term nervous breakdown. I do think it's outdated and derogatory and something that is especially attributed to females. I also don't think burnout is the same thing, I feel there's a subtle difference and the two can be caused by different things with different recovery paths. I certainly believe in burnout and there will be a surge if there isn't already (clinician background +covid+life events).

I personally wouldn't be offended if a manager said it as a one off and jokingly but it certainly could offend and upset others, belittle the importance of maintaining a healthy working environment and respect for all staff members. It could also undermine the desire to go to that manager if anyone was struggling. However on the other hand some people would find the fact they were joking about it a way to bring up the subject etc.