Combating Loneliness: How to Support Mental Health for Remote Workers
PREFER TO LISTEN? WE GOT YOUWorking from home offers flexibility and freedom, but it can also lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and disconnection from the team. For many, the lack of daily in-person interactions with colleagues can quietly impact mental health, leading to higher stress, disengagement, and even burnout.
For HR managers, business leaders, and team leaders, addressing the loneliness that many remote workers experience isn’t just good practice — it’s essential to building a resilient, thriving remote team. Creating a connected, supportive environment requires empathy, intentional communication, and an openness to trying new strategies that encourage connection across digital channels.
Here’s an in-depth guide on managing loneliness among remote workers, offering actionable strategies that help foster a connected, healthy, and supportive remote work culture.
It’s not always obvious, but your employees’ feelings of loneliness are a problem for your business.
Why Mental Health Support Is Essential for Remote Workers
For employees who are used to in-office camaraderie, adapting to a home-based work setup can be a challenge — people can feel especially lonely without the regular social interactions of a traditional workplace. Even those who prefer working remotely can feel isolated from their team members, lacking the informal chats and organic interactions that make a workplace feel like a community.
Loneliness among remote employees can have a profound impact on both personal and professional wellbeing. When employees feel disconnected, it can lead to a decrease in motivation, productivity, and engagement. Over time, chronic loneliness has been linked to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and burnout, all of which can impact a person’s quality of life and job performance. For companies, this can lead to higher turnover rates, lower morale, and ultimately, a less cohesive team.
When companies proactively support remote workers’ mental health, they create a culture that values employees’ wellbeing, builds trust, and fosters loyalty. By addressing loneliness and mental health, HR and business leaders can help employees feel truly connected, no matter where they’re working from.
The Psychological Impact of Loneliness on Remote Workers
Loneliness is more than just a feeling; it has tangible effects on mental health and can deeply influence how people show up at work. Studies show that chronic loneliness can weaken the immune system, increase stress, and even contribute to cardiovascular issues. In the workplace, loneliness can lead to higher levels of disengagement, reduced productivity, and an increased likelihood of leaving the job. For remote workers, the isolation of working alone every day without the regular support and camaraderie of an in-office environment can feel particularly heavy.
Mental health struggles often go unnoticed when people are working remotely. Team members who might be struggling with feelings of loneliness or anxiety may not always reach out, and their struggles can easily be masked behind screens. For HR and team leaders, understanding how loneliness impacts remote employees allows for early intervention, providing the support they need to feel valued and connected.
Recognizing Signs of Loneliness and Mental Health Struggles
These 5 signs of loneliness in your remote employees can be easily missed if you don’t know what to look for.
One of the biggest challenges for HR and team leaders is recognizing the signs of loneliness and mental health struggles in a virtual setting. In a traditional office, changes in behavior are more visible, but remote work requires a different level of attentiveness. Subtle signs of loneliness can include:
Decreased communication or prolonged response times
Avoiding virtual meetings or rarely turning on the camera
Reduced participation in group activities or discussions
Signs of fatigue, stress, or low energy
Missing deadlines or a sudden drop in work quality
If you notice these signs, it’s essential to reach out in a compassionate, non-judgmental way. Letting employees know they’re seen and valued can make all the difference. For example, a team leader might say, “I’ve noticed you seem quieter than usual. If there’s anything I can help with, please don’t hesitate to reach out.” This shows the employee that their wellbeing matters without putting pressure on them to open up if they’re not ready.
Creating a culture where employees feel safe discussing mental health challenges requires both openness and respect. Encourage managers to ask open-ended questions, such as “How are you feeling about your work-life balance?” or “Are there any resources or support that would help you feel more connected?” These conversations can provide valuable insights while helping employees feel supported.
Virtual Team-Building Activities: Bringing the Team Together from Afar
Building team connections remotely takes creativity, but virtual team-building activities can bring employees together and build camaraderie. These activities create opportunities for team members to connect on a personal level, reducing loneliness and fostering a sense of community. Here are a few engaging virtual activities to consider:
Virtual Coffee Breaks: Setting aside a few minutes each week for informal “coffee breaks” allows team members to catch up, chat, and share about their lives outside of work.
Lunch-and-Learn Sessions: These informal sessions offer opportunities for employees to share their knowledge or passion about a topic — whether work-related or personal. It’s a way for team members to learn more about each other’s interests and talents.
Team Trivia and Games: Virtual trivia games, online escape rooms, or other collaborative games can be a fun break from work and encourage a sense of teamwork.
Wellness Challenges: Consider wellness challenges, such as a mindfulness challenge, to encourage healthy habits and friendly competition among team members.
“Buddy” System: Pairing employees up as “buddies” creates built-in support and ensures that each person has a designated teammate to check in with on a regular basis.
By scheduling these activities regularly, companies can create a rhythm of connection that employees can look forward to, helping reduce feelings of isolation.
Open Communication and Regular Check-ins: Staying Connected as a Team
Open communication is one of the most effective ways to support mental health among remote employees. Regular check-ins ensure that employees feel connected and give them an opportunity to discuss any struggles or concerns. Best practices for these check-ins include:
Weekly or Biweekly One-on-Ones: Scheduling regular one-on-ones between team leaders and employees provides a safe space for employees to discuss their work, challenges, or anything they may need support with.
All-Hands Video Calls: Regular team or all-hands calls foster transparency and provide a forum for open communication across the team.
Open-Door Virtual Policy: Managers can keep a “virtual open-door policy” by scheduling a block of time where employees can drop in for casual chats or to discuss any work-related questions.
During these check-ins, leaders should make an effort to go beyond surface-level questions. Simply asking, “How are you doing?” or “What’s going well, and where are you struggling?” encourages employees to be open. Showing empathy and vulnerability, such as by sharing some of their own challenges, helps leaders model authenticity and fosters a culture of openness.
Access to Mental Health Resources: Supporting Employees with Practical Tools
Providing mental health resources is a powerful way to show employees that their wellbeing is valued. Mental health coaching is a supportive and structured process that helps individuals improve their mental wellbeing through goal-oriented guidance, coping strategies, and personalized plans to manage stress, build resilience, and foster a positive mindset. Coaching is typically focused on present challenges and future goals, helping individuals to enhance their mental resilience, self-awareness, and emotional wellbeing.
How Mental Health Coaching Can Combat Employee Loneliness
Fostering Connection and Support
Mental health coaching provides employees with regular, supportive interactions, offering a safe space to discuss their feelings, frustrations, and goals. Through these conversations, employees gain a sense of connection, knowing they’re not alone in facing challenges. Coaches listen without judgment and validate experiences, reducing the sense of isolation that remote or hybrid work can sometimes bring.Building Resilience and Coping Skills
A major goal in mental health coaching is helping individuals develop resilience and healthy coping skills. For employees experiencing loneliness, coaches might introduce techniques to manage feelings of isolation, such as mindfulness, journaling, or reframing negative thoughts. These practices help employees manage loneliness proactively, providing mental tools they can use in and outside of work.Enhancing Self-Awareness and Social Engagement
Coaches help individuals identify their personal strengths, social needs, and areas for growth. For those struggling with loneliness, this often involves understanding what kind of social interactions they find fulfilling and how to create these connections — even in a remote setting. Employees may learn to initiate and engage in meaningful conversations, schedule regular virtual meet-ups, or find fulfilling social connections within their work team.Goal-Setting for Workplace Interaction
Mental health coaching often involves setting practical goals that align with an individual’s personal and professional needs. For a lonely employee, these goals might include reaching out to colleagues for coffee chats, joining social or professional virtual events, or participating more actively in team meetings. By setting actionable goals, employees have a framework for building connections, which can gradually reduce loneliness.Improving Work-Life Balance
Mental health coaches also help employees achieve a healthier work-life balance, which can indirectly reduce loneliness. When employees feel less overwhelmed and more balanced, they have more energy and motivation to engage in social activities, both in and outside of work. This holistic approach can lessen the burden of isolation by fostering a sense of fulfillment and wellbeing.
By creating a supportive environment that encourages personal growth, mental health coaching provides employees with a constructive way to combat loneliness, build connections, and enhance their mental resilience, leading to a happier, more engaged, and connected workforce.
Check out Wave’s flexible mental health coaching and self-guided app.
Encouraging Work-Life Balance and Boundary Setting
Maintaining work-life balance is a major factor in supporting mental health. For remote workers, however, it can be difficult to set boundaries when home and work life are intertwined. HR and leaders can encourage boundary-setting by clearly communicating expectations around working hours and respecting off-hours communication.
Some effective strategies for boundary-setting include:
Setting Clear Working Hours: Encourage employees to set designated working hours and to communicate these hours with their team.
Creating a Designated Workspace: Encourage employees to set up a workspace that’s separate from their personal space, signaling the start and end of the workday.
Taking Breaks: Remind employees to take regular breaks throughout the day, which is essential for managing stress and maintaining productivity.
Turning Off Notifications: Encourage employees to turn off work notifications after hours, helping them fully disconnect and recharge.
By prioritizing work-life balance, companies help employees protect their mental wellbeing and reduce the risk of burnout.
Help Your Team Combat Loneliness with Wave
Supporting the mental health of remote workers, particularly when it comes to loneliness, is an essential part of building a resilient, thriving workforce. Through intentional practices — such as recognizing signs of loneliness, fostering open communication, creating virtual team-building opportunities, providing mental health resources, and encouraging work-life balance — HR and leaders can create a work environment where employees feel valued, supported, and connected.
As remote work continues to evolve, so too should our strategies for supporting mental health. Create a culture of care, one where employees feel empowered to bring their whole selves to work. By addressing loneliness and prioritizing mental health, companies can foster a connected, engaged team and build a foundation for long-term success.