Gaby Hinsliff’s article about the Green MP Carla Denyer refers to “angry men on radio phone-ins asking why politicians can’t handle ‘a few emails’ without needing a lie-down when nurses and teachers just have to soldier on regardless” ( The curse of burnout Britain affects politicians as much as everyone else: give Carla Denyer a break, 26 May ). I have useful insight into how teachers cope with burnout, because I was one of the many who couldn’t. The perception of teachers and nurses as boundlessly, selflessly resilient is a classic example of survivorship bias – you just don’t hear from those of us who fall short; we don’t stay teachers or nurses for long. I gave up on a career in teaching after an episode of severe burnout in my 20s. I returned to scientific research and have since moved into trade union research, in roles and with employers who can and will accommodate some flexibility in my working patterns.…