When freelance writer Kate Morgan came down with a “rip-roaring fever” this winter, her flu symptoms weren’t the only thing making her feel dreadful. She was also grappling with intense anxiety over what was going to happen to her paycheck.

“Obviously I’ve had colds,” Kate tells Supermaker. “But this is the first time I’ve been out-of-commission sick. The nature of the beast is that my income depends on my rhythm of work. I was freaking out.”

At home alone in rural Pennsylvania, what might be seen by an office worker as a chance for a few day’s recovery suddenly felt catastrophic.

Sad times

Kate is one of 57 million freelancers in the US, a group that’s expected to account for 50% of the country’s workforce by 2027. This is a shift being seen around the world; over in the UK, for example, the number of freelancers between 26-29 has risen by 66% since 2008.

The freedom and autonomy that comes with being your own boss is a captivating prospect for many people, but it’s also sadly true that those who spend most of their time working at home are more likely to struggle with their mental health than the wider population. As well as grappling with loneliness and isolation, freelancers are more likely to experience depression and suicidal thoughts, while the stress that comes with navigating unpredictable workloads (and clients who don’t realize how their behaviors might contribute to or exacerbate these challenges) is also taking its toll.

According to a recent survey from mental health support platform Leapers, the top causes of stress for freelancers include irregular income (cited by 85% of respondents), unpaid or late invoices (65%), and having to justify their value to clients (69%). The survey also found that 78% find the lack of clarity clients provide on projects stressful, while 72% struggle with the fraught experience of being ghosted by their clients.

