Post-Pandemic Burnout: Mental Health Challenges Among Digital Media Workers

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the mental health challenges faced by digital media professionals in Southeast Asia in the post-COVID era, focusing on emotional burnout, social isolation, and coping mechanisms within hybrid work environments. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 20 professionals—including journalists, editors, content creators, and social media managers—the study uses a phenomenological approach to uncover lived experiences of remote work. Four key themes emerged: emotional exhaustion due to digital overload, diminished interpersonal connection, anxiety from constant online availability, and varied individual coping strategies. While some participants valued the flexibility of hybrid work, most expressed persistent psychological fatigue, disrupted boundaries between work and life, and dissatisfaction with superficial organizational wellness programs. The discussion reveals that post-pandemic burnout is not merely a personal challenge but a structural and cultural issue within digital media organizations. The study calls for holistic, proactive support systems that go beyond individual resilience and include mental health infrastructure, workload management, and team cohesion strategies. These findings off er timely implications for media organizations aiming to foster sustainable and psychologically supportive workplaces.