Why must we spend the time, effort, and money on identifying the importance of depression in the workplace?
In today’s economy there is an economic premium on cerebral skills. When diagnosing depression, one of the factors to consider is cognitive dysfunction. Difficulty making decisions, poor concentration, impaired memory – these are all symptoms of cognitive decline due to depression.
Scientific discovery has made it clear that depression is very much a disease of the brain. Mental illness affects all areas of life, from cognitive function to heart health.
In the United Kingdom, 1 in 4 people will suffer from some form of mental illness. Mixed anxiety and depression are the most common forms of mental illness. These statistics are staggering, and should be a wake-up call to both the business and science community about the urgency of reducing the rates of depression from both a health and economic standpoint.
What are some of the ways that depression affects the workplace?
- 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression, with depression listed as the leading cause of workplace disability, according to World Health Organization.
- Depression is the leading cause of violent death, heart disease and cancer, the leading causes of death in the western world, can also be linked to depression.
- Globally, depression is more prevalent in women, and mental illness leads to the loss of life for an unprecedented number of young women ages 15-44, especially in poorer countries.
- Those of working age are affected by depression in a disproportionate number, affecting business and the economy.
- Employees affected by depression often experience presenteeism, when they are physically present in the workplace but not emotionally or mentally capable of fulfilling their role at their job.
- Workplace bullying has an effect on depressive symptoms.
- Depression is a risk factor for unemployment and job loss, with those who are both depressed and unemployed experiencing significantly more job losses or periods of unemployment than others with other chronic illnesses, such as arthritis.
- Perhaps the most visible effect of mental illness in the workplace is absenteeism and disability, when an individual uses paid or unpaid sick days to miss work, and sometimes even leaves their job for a period due to the disabling effects of their depression.
There is great urgency to act now and pursue new developments in the treatment for depression.
- Bill
Mental Health International 