How burnout is defined
ICD-11 lists burnout under QD85, in the chapter covering factors that influence health status or bring people into contact with health services — that is, reasons people seek care that are not themselves illnesses. The WHO is explicit that burnout refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be used to describe experiences in other areas of life.
Where they overlap, and where they part
Exhaustion, poor sleep, irritability and a flattened sense of capability appear in both. The clearest difference is scope. Burnout is bounded by work: energy and interest often return on leave, and the cynicism attaches to the job. Depression is pervasive — it follows you into the weekend, into relationships and into things you used to enjoy, and commonly brings persistent low mood, guilt or hopelessness with it.
That distinction is clinical, not something to settle from an online checklist. Prolonged workplace stress is also a recognised risk factor for depression, so the two often arrive together.
Why the label has practical consequences
Medicare's Better Access program applies to people with a clinically diagnosed mental disorder. Because burnout is not classified as a medical condition, burnout alone does not establish eligibility for a Mental Health Care Plan; a diagnosable condition does. This is one reason a proper assessment matters before assuming what is and is not claimable.
Treatment points in different directions
If the picture is occupational, the work includes recovery of energy, boundaries, workload and role, and the conditions someone returns to — treating the person without touching the job usually fails. If depression is present, treatment targets that directly, and coordination with your GP about medication may be part of it. Most people we see need some of both.