The connection between hybrid work and employee mental health has become a central topic of discussion in the workplace since the Covid pandemic.

A new survey of media and advertising professionals by Never Not Creative, The Mentally Healthy Change Group and the charity UnLtd explains the connection between the two.

The survey was conducted in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the USA with more than 2,000 professionals.

According to the results, 38% of respondents reported feeling depressed while working from home. While many workers report improved mental wellbeing due to the flexibility hybrid work offers, anxiety, burnout and depression are also increasing noticeably.

Of those who have hybrid working arrangements, 32% reported being depressed, and 30% with flexible working arrangements reported being depressed. Of those who only have the choice to work in the office, 33% reported being depressed.

40% of respondents said they experience anxiety when working in an office. This can manifest itself in a variety of ways, from employees worrying about their work performance to how they interact with colleagues. This compares to just 28% of those with flexible working arrangements.

Equally worrying, 70% of media and advertising professionals have suffered from burnout in the last year. According to respondents, the burnout problem is exacerbated when leaders set a precedent by working long hours, skipping breaks or working while sick.

Respondents reported that this behavior often impacts the entire organization, creating an environment where overwork is normalized and celebrated, leading to widespread burnout.

Respondents suggest effectively addressing this issue requires a cultural shift in valuing work and leisure beyond financial reward, rather than telling people they need to be resilient or teaching them self-care tactics like “productivity apps, journaling or face masks.”

According to the study, there is also a connection between age and mental health. Employees born in the 1990s are particularly affected. In contrast, the impairment is less severe among employees born in the 1980s.

Research shows that mental health problems do not worsen with age among people born before the 1980s. The study suggests that the declining mental health of millennials is a major factor contributing to the overall decline in mental health of the population.

Older participants, especially those over 40, tend to experience more work-related stress, such as work-related health problems and sleep disorders. In contrast, younger participants show higher levels of anxiety and depression, reporting symptoms such as nervousness, difficulty breathing, and feelings of futility.

The study also found that people with better mental health are more likely to work from home, be older, heterosexual, and work in companies with 20 to 49 employees.

In addition, people who are very satisfied with their salary, sleep well, and work in an environment that values ​​people over profit tend to report better mental well-being. However, these people also feel less equipped to care for someone with mental health problems.

A full written report by Never Not Creative, The Mentally Healthy Change Group and UnLtd will be published next week.

This story first appeared on Campaign Asia-Pacific.