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Depression & Work From Home: A New Challenge

MS. NAVEENA SURESH (ASSISTANT PROFESSOR)

Shree Narayana Guru College of Commerce, Mumbai.

Recipient of the First Prize at the 13th Dharam S. Hinduja

All India Essay Writing Competition for Lecturers (2020-2021)

Change is an inevitable part of life and life always brings with it challenges and
opportunities to be explored. However, the year 2020 brought with it
unimaginable changes and unforeseen challenges. It became a year to be
remembered forever as it witnessed a new wave of a pandemic which was a
game changer for the lives of all human beings. On March 11, 2020, the World
Health Organization declared that COVID-19 was a global pandemic, indicating
signicant global spread of an infectious disease. New lessons were learnt by one
and all and we rode along the rollercoaster facing an uncertain future. The year
also taught important lessons such as the worth and value of life and good health;
resilience; gratitude and humility. In the words of the Indian author and activist,
Arundhati Roy, “Historically, pandemics have forced to break with the past and
imagine their world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway
between one world and the next. We can choose to walk through it…lightly with little luggage, ready to imagine
another world. And ready to ght for it.”
The year 2020 also introduced new terms in a common man's vocabulary such as Work from Home, Quarantine,
Lockdown, Herd Immunity, Containment Zones, Incubation, Isolation, Super Spreader etc. as senior citizens and
persons with co-morbidities became particularly vulnerable and nations worldwide sealed their boundaries to
protect their people. Governments started taking control of this war like situation; news channels were eagerly
followed; masks and sanitizers were stacked up; thousands of migrants proceeded to their hometowns; social
distancing became the new norm; the livelihood of lakhs of people was affected and a new breed of social workers,
proudly addressed as COVID Warriors emerged with medical staff and police force in their ranks to show the
world that in spite of the international trauma and turmoil humanity was still alive.
The year 2020 gave rise to a new work culture around the world i.e. Work from Home which to an extent helped
many companies and organizations to at least stay aoat. However, the trend has picked up and has even become
popular. Employees today can easily plug-in or log in through internet facilities and required infrastructure from just
about anywhere. When we look at the pros and cons of this, it is like the 2 sides of a coin which has both advantages
and disadvantages. The advantages being workplace and time exibility, particularly for young mothers; zero
commuting; limited ofce distractions; less congestion and pollution and more and quality family time. The
disadvantages being difculty in adhering to a routine; technical and internetworking problems and above all
boredom, loneliness and depression which has emerged as a very serious psychological and mental problem.
Depression is a group of conditions associated with the elevation or lowering of a person's mood. It is basically a
mood disorder that can affect a person's daily life. It may be described as feelings of sadness, loss or anger.
Approximately 1 in 15 adults are affected by depression in any given year; according to the American Psychiatric
Association (APA). Depression is a common, yet serious mental health condition that has a negative impact on how
an individual feels, thinks and acts. People of all age groups may face this situation. Nowadays, even children are
prone to this condition which sometimes requires immediate medical attention. People experience depression in
different ways. It may interfere with one’s daily work, resulting in lost time and lower productivity. It can also
inuence relationships and also result in chronic health conditions like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity
etc.
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