Hơn 95% của các công nhân nói rằng việc làm híbrid là tốt nhất cho sức khỏe tinh thần.

In a new survey released by FlexJobs, 96% of workers believe a remote or hybrid work arrangement would be best for their mental health. The survey included results from over 5,600 people, and reported that 49% of respondents say that a hybrid workspace is the ideal arrangement. Women prefer remote work, when compared to men, by a 58% vs. 42% margin. In total, a fully-remote arrangement was preferred by 47% of respondents. With over 70% of employers embracing hybrid work models, workers appear to be getting their wish. Are workers confusing well-being (defined in Psychology Today as personal satisfaction, overall happiness and a sense of meaning or purpose) with mental health? Is hybrid work the antidote for the feelings of frustration, malaise and general employee disengagement that’s been well-documented here in Forbes?

When over 1/5 of American adults are experiencing some form of mental illness, the distinction (between mental health and hybrid work) is crucial for team leaders today. There are two separate issues at work here: mental health and overall well-being – and, while they are related, they are not the same.

Key Takeaways from the 2023 Study

• 21% of adults are experiencing at least one mental illness.
• 55% of adults with a mental illness have not received any treatment.
• Just over 5% of adults experience severe mental illness.

The CDC reports that cases of anxiety and depression are on the rise. While just 11% of adults reported symptoms in 2019, that number jumped to 40% in 2020 – exacerbated, in part, by the isolation caused by the pandemic. However, it would be a mistake to think that hybrid work is a panacea (cure-all) for mental health. Because our circumstances (how, where and when we work) and our mental health are two very different things.

Discovering the Source of Mental Health and Well-Being

There’s an old saying that says, “Everywhere you go, there you are.” Whether hybrid or working from home, you’re still you. If circumstances were all it took to overcome mental health issues, there would be no mental health obstacles. We would all just move to a certain place (Hawai’i? Poughkeepsie? Your parent’s basement?), or work a certain way (left-handed? without access to social media? only on zoom?) But that’s not the way the world works. The best work design for one person doesn’t necessarily fit for someone else. And work style is not the source of mental health and well-being. Flexibility is an important factor in designing the future of work. But it’s not the only factor. Because how you show up, and how you focus on your own mental health, isn’t a function of location.

How we work – and where we work – are determined by the nature of your job, your lifestyle, family considerations, employer expectations, and more. The key to personal success: don’t conflate mental health with your circumstances. Because where you work is not who you are.

Battling Anxiety and Depression: You Are Not Alone

Consider the stories of superstars and celebrities who are on top of the world, swimming in money and fame, and yet they are not immune from depression and anxiety. The list of folks who are open and vulnerable about their struggles with anxiety and depression includes Dwayne Johnson (the top earner on Forbes list of entertainers last year), Selena Gomez, and funnyman Wayne Brady (he struggled with depression throughout his thirties and didn’t seek help until his forties).

The tragedy of Robin Williams – at one point, one of the most famous people in the world – is well documented. Despite his fame, and the personal freedom that comes with that level of celebrity, his struggle with depression was a battle he could not win – and the world lost an amazing creative soul as a result.

If you struggle with anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns, you are not alone. And you don’t have to go it alone. Before you try to shift your working arrangement, maybe it’s time to start working on yourself.

Understanding that Where You Work is Not Who You Are

What’s happening between your ears may look like it’s coming from your work environment, but therapists and coaches will tell you: your thinking and your circumstances are two different things. You can be happy, or miserable, inside a hybrid work environment – because you can experience the entire range of human experience no matter where you are working, or what you are doing. That’s how thought works. As many therapists and coaches have said in various publications, including Psychology Today: you are not your thoughts.

Struggling with mental health is part of the game of life, for many. Understanding that you are not alone is perhaps the first step in understanding that new possibilities always exist – especially when it comes to your well-being and mental health. Finding solutions that fit for you may require a level of reflection that’s not reflected in the survey results above. Working from home doesn’t solve toxic culture, cure your poor communication skills, or help you to overcome depression and anxiety. Making hybrid work demands of your boss or your employer may not be the right answer – even if 96% of people in a survey think it is.