Depression in the workplace is an area that calls for attention. When an employee is depressed, it can affect not only that employees’ productivity and happiness, but the entire mood of his / her co-workers and their productivity too. Left untreated, depression can be as costly as heart disease – depression tends to affect people in their prime working years and may last a lifetime if left untreated. More than 80% of people with clinical depression can be successfully treated. With early recognition, intervention and support, most employees can overcome clinical depression and pick up where they left off.
According to the World Health Organization:
- Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally more than 300 million people of all ages suffer from depression.
- Depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide, and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease.
- More women are affected by depression than men.
- At its worst, depression can lead to suicide – close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-29 years olds.
- There are effective psychological and pharmacological treatments for depression
Many employees may be unaware that they have depression. Often times a depressed employee will not seek help or treatment because they fear the affect it will have on their job and they are concerned about confidentiality.
Just as managers should be aware of any physical ailment that may hinder an employees’ work, they should be aware of an employees’ mental health. Mental illness often goes unrecognized because it is not easy to spot and is considered a private matter for most people.
Depression on the job is often misinterpreted as a bad attitude or poor work ethic. You won’t change it with reprimand or a pep talk. You may however be able to put your employee at ease by showing your awareness of the problem. But first, you must be able to recognize it.
Employees will likely appreciate access to Employee Assistance Program, where they have a professional resource they can use to discuss sensitive issues in complete confidence.
Depression can affect a company’s productivity, morale and effectiveness. Recognizing the signs and understanding what kind of help and support can be offered will be extremely helpful for dealing with depressed employee.