In this Thursday’s edition (3) of the Medical Correspondent board, from Novo Dia, neurosurgeon Fernando Gomes talked about the impacts of home office – also known as teleworking – for mental health.
A system widely used by companies in all sectors since the beginning of the pandemic, the home office brings amenities to the worker, but it can be the cause of various psychological disorders. According to a survey by a Swiss human resources company that gathered 15,000 people in several countries, 38% of respondents reported having suffered from Burnout Syndrome throughout 2021. 32% also said they had a “significant” worsening of mental health at work. From home.
The Burnout Syndrome, or mental exhaustion syndrome, has a direct relationship between feeling good, generating a kind of depression, confusion between the performance at work and the professional’s self-esteem, explained Fernando Gomes. “Often it’s the brain itself signaling the person that they need to change their lifestyle so it doesn’t lead to bad things,” he said.
Despite being a psychological problem, burnout can trigger a series of serious physical problems, such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Regarding the research, Gomes classified that the 32% of respondents who said they had a low quality of mental health suffer from problems such as stress, insomnia, change in eating habits, anxiety, among other conditions.
“There is a very easy correlation to make, which is ‘work an hour inside the company or an hour at home’. But in terms of attention, mental performance and energy drain, the reality is totally different.”
“It is logical that this was a bandage for the economy to keep going and things to keep happening in a period of pandemic. But we already imagined that this kind of change could have an impact until we adapt and better understand how things should work”, concluded the neurosurgeon.
After the participation of an internet user, who spoke on social media about the mental difficulties of staying at home – he retired at the beginning of the pandemic after 50 years of service -, the doctor highlighted the importance of organizing the time to dedicate himself to health and “disconnect” from professional functions.
“We have to be very honest with ourselves from the start. Is your employment contract per hour of service or per mission? That already answers everything, because you already know how to proceed and what your business relationship with the contractor is like. If it’s per hour of work, that’s it. You need to organize time to work. It’s over, it’s over. You have other aspects of life that need to be taken into account in order for you to perform well the next day.”
“If your work is on-demand, the conversation shifts a bit and increases accountability. Often, an excited person, wanting to have more and more results, ends up violating these basic health rules that are important for the body to function well and the mind to stay healthy.”
Source: CNN Brasil
