November / December 2002
Depression
in the Workplace: A Costly Disorder for
Employees and Employers Alike
Dr. M. Donald Whorton,
MD, MPH
FACOEM, FACE
Vice President, WorkCare
Those in the EHS industry
may be well aware that repeated trauma
disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, noise
induced hearing loss and tendinitis, represent
more than half of all new occupationally related
injuries/illnesses cases. These types of
disorders have been on the "radar
screen" for some time because of the
adverse impact they have on employees and
employers alike. Although depression is
not as easily recognizable as these illnesses,
and is often a misunderstood disorder,
depression in the workplace can be just as
costly to employees and employers.
More than 19 million
American adults (9.5% of the population) suffer
from this disorder.
According to the National
Mental Health Association, depression ranks
among the top three workplace problems,
following only family crisis and life stressors.
Clinical depression alone
costs the U.S. $43.7 billion annually, including
workplace costs for absenteeism and lost
productivity ($23.8 billion), direct costs for
treatment and rehabilitation ($12.4 billion) and
loss of expected lifetime earnings due to
depression-induced suicides ($7.5 billion)
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1993).
Aside from the financial
costs, depression carries a heavy, personal
burden for those lives it affects.
Depression interferes with a person's ability to
work, study, sleep, eat, and take part in
enjoyable activities. Symptoms
may include: persistent sad, anxious, or
"empty" feelings; hopelessness,
pessimism; decreased energy, fatigue, being
"slowed down"; restlessness, and
irritability. As a result, employees who
are clinically depressed may experience
difficulties at work. Depression can
affect workers' productivity, judgment and job
performance. The illness can lead to
increased absenteeism, morale problems, low
performance levels and greater risks of
accidents.
Given the effect that
depression can have in the workplace, it is
important for managers to be aware of the
signs/symptoms of the illness, and have an
understanding of the external resources
available to diagnosis and treat depression.
Managers are not in the position to diagnosis
depression, but they can be helpful in
recognizing changes in employee behavior and
productivity and provide appropriate referrals,
if necessary.
For example, if an
employee has exhibited signs of depression
in the workplace that have adversely
affected job performance, it's appropriate for a
manager to meet with the employee and discuss
the employee's job-related behavior. Prior
to this, it's advisable for the manager to seek
guidance from human resources or the company's
employee assistance provider (EAP) on how to
best approach the employee.
If an employee
voluntarily brings up personal health issues
with a manager, it's appropriate to recommend
resources to the employee, such as a
company's EAP or other external mental health
professional services. These resources can
provide treatment options, including medication,
short-term talk therapy, or a combination of
both. The National Institute of Mental
Health states that in more than 80% of cases,
treatment is effective--so pointing the employee
in the right direction can make a
difference.
Depression can also
become more prevalent during the holidays.
Although the season is a time of cheer for many,
the holidays can also bring the blues. According
to the United States Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), some
common causes of holiday blues are the loss of a
family member or friend, increased life
stressors and pressure, unresolved grief, family
misunderstandings or conflict, financial burden,
and fatigue.
To provide you with
greater resources regarding depression in the
workplace, we have compiled this list of useful
web links that contains articles, tools and
reports that can be of assistance in
understanding this often misunderstood disorder.
Web
Resources on Depression in the Workplace
National
Mental Health Association
The National Mental
Health Association provides a strategic local
presence for many advocacy and education
efforts.
UnumProvident
This White Paper,
"Behavioral Health Disability: Depression
in the Workplace," by Renee Mattaliano, MA,
CRC, and David McDowell, Ph.D, discusses the
challenges of dealing with depression at work,
and provides solutions to improve employee
health and productivity.
Workplace
Blues - Resources for Managers
This article by Workplace
Blues discusses the role of the supervisor in
recognizing changes in an individual.
Workplace
Blues - Effects of Depression in the Workplace
This article by
WorkplaceBlues.com discusses the cost of
untreated depression.
Ninemsn
Bulletin-Curing Workplace Depression
This link by Ninemsn
reports on workdays lost annually to depression.
A new awareness campaign aims to help managers
recognize warning signs and to encourage
sufferers to seek help.
Pocket
Guide to Mental Health Resources
The resources listed in
this directory offer mental health information
and links to mental health contacts.
National
Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of
Mental Health provides information on the review
of corporate medical programs and employee
health benefits and addresses employee
assistance programs, management awareness, and
recognition of depressive disorders.
SAMSHA
A comprehensive web site
by Substance Abuse Mental Health Services
Administration that contains a rich resource of
links regarding mental health illnesses.
HeartMath
This paper presented by
Bruce A. Cryer, VP, Global Business Development,
HeartMath LLC discusses six key areas in how to
neutralize stress in the workplace and find
greater personal balance for yourself.
Holiday
Blues
An article by SAMSHA that
discusses the causes of holiday blues and tips
to help people through the holiday season.
Layman's
Guide to Depression
This article discusses
the symptoms of depression as they affect the
workplace and, as an employer, how you deal with
depression in your employees.
Depression
in the Workplace
This link by Michael H.
Smith, Ph.D., discusses the need to train your
managers in how to recognize depression, how to
appropriately raise the issue, and how to refer
people with depression to programs where they
can get therapy.
San
Antonio Business Journal - Article
This link discusses loss
of productivity resulting from depression in the
workplace.
Stop
Loneliness
This link provides
information and resources for people affected by
loneliness.
Symptoms
of Clinical Depression
- Persistent sad,
anxious or "empty" mood
- Sleeping too much or
too little, middle of the night or early
morning waking
- Reduced appetite and
weight loss, or increased appetite and
weight gain
- Loss of pleasure and
interest in activities once enjoyed,
including sex
- Restlessness,
irritability
- Persistent physical
symptoms that do not respond to treatment
(such as chronic pain or digestive
disorders)
- Difficulty
concentrating, remembering or making
decisions
- Fatigue or loss of
energy
- Feeling guilty,
hopeless or worthless
- Thoughts of suicide or
death
Symptoms
of Depression Which May Be Seen in the Workplace
- Decreased productivity
- Morale problems
- Lack of cooperation
- Safety risks,
accidents
- Absenteeism
- Frequent statements
about being tired all the time
- Complaints of
unexplained aches and pains
- Alcohol and drug abuse
|
