Burnout cases on the rise owing to work from home: Experts

For Priya, this was the moment where she felt the most stressed and the most burnt out, and according to mental health experts in the city, cases of burnout have taken a sharp increase in the city.

For working adults, working from home has led to increased workload and working hours, anxiety, stress and sleep deprivation. “I have seen a sharp increase in burnout cases in the city following the pandemic. Several people have turned to substance abuse to cope with the stress and the lack of sleep. Burnout affects personal and professional life deeply, with anxiety and lack of productivity,” said Dr Vasanth R, a local psychiatrist.

This is accelerated with the lack of socialisation and ‘me time’, said psychiatrist Dr Vivian Kapil, adding that being cooped up at home also causes mental strain. “Even one hour of personal time, where an individual can relax and rejuvenate in whatever way works best for them, can help boost their productivity greatly. This personal time is lost due to increased workload and working hours, and therefore it builds and can cause people to burnout from exhaustion,” said Dr Kapil.

Even children and elders, too, are suffering from burnout, according to psychiatrist Ennapadam S Krishnamoorthy, founder of Buddhi Clinic. The struggles of online classes and lack of socialisation have affected children’s productivity, while elders struggle with feelings of fear and isolation as they are restricted from movement for their safety.

“In children, this manifests as behavioural problems and dip in performance at school. For elders, many have faced worsening of health conditions, and prolonged isolation can cause mental damage in the long-term. Burnout can manifest differently in different people, however, but rest is crucial for recovery,” said Krishnamoorthy.