Mental Health and Remote Working

Remote and hybrid working comes with its own set of benefits, providing increased flexibility and autonomy and a better work-life balance, and often reducing stress. 

However, it could also present some challenges which may lead individuals to experience poor mental health or cause existing mental health conditions to worsen. Some of these include:

• Isolation and loneliness: Those who work remotely or in a hybrid role don’t experience the same level of social interaction as those who see their colleagues every day. While this may work well for some, others may feel isolated or lonely, particularly those who don't have an active social life outside of work. Social interaction is vital for our cognitive health and emotional wellbeing, and those who work remotely may be at increased risk of developing mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety.

• Work-life boundaries: When working remotely, some may experience a lack of separation between work and home life, which may lead to increased anxiety, stress, and burnout.

• Communication challenges: Remote and hybrid roles often rely on online communication platforms that not only reduce human-to-human contact, causing some to feel disconnected, but may also lead to miscommunication. This could increase stress and anxiety in some individuals. 

• Home distractions: Some employees may find it difficult to ignore distractions in their home environment, such as technology and other hobbies, and may even feel like they are ‘trapped’ in their own home, an environment that ought to be a safe and relaxing space. This can lead to frustration and reduced productivity, in turn increasing stress levels and the risk of anxiety or depression.