Factsheet: Depression in the Workplace
Clinical depression has become one of America's most costly illnesses. Left untreated, depression is as costly as heart disease or AIDS to the US economy, costing over $43.7 billion in absenteeism from work (over 200 million days lost from work each year), lost productivity and direct treatment costsi. Depression tends to affect people in their prime working years and may last a lifetime if untreated. More than 80 percent 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.
Know The Facts
Depression ranks among the top three workplace problems for employee assistance professionals, following only family crisis and stressii.
3% of total short term disability days are due to depressive disorders and in 76% of those cases, the employee was femaleiii.
In a study of First Chicago Corporations, depressive disorders accounted for more than half of all medical plan dollars paid for mental health problems. The amount for treatment of these claims was close to the amount spent on treatment for heart diseaseiv.
The annual economic cost of depression in 1995 was $600 per depressed worker. Nearly one-third of these costs are for treatment and 72% are costs related to absenteeism and lost productivity at workv.
Almost 15% of those suffering from severe depression will die by suicidevi.
Employees Attitudes Towards Depression
Often times a depressed employee will not seek treatment because they fear the affect it will have on their job and they are concerned about confidentiality.
Many employees are also unaware they have depression or they fear their insurance is inadequate to cover costs.
Most employers will refer a depressed employee for help if they are aware of the symptoms. 64% of NMHA Survey respondents said they would refer an employee to an EAP health professional vii.
Learn to recognize the symptoms of clinical depression
No two people experience clinical depression in the same manner. Symptoms will vary in severity and duration among different people. See your doctor* if you experience five or more of the following symptoms for more than two weeks:
Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood.
Sleeping too little, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much.
Reduced appetite and/or weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain.
Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex.
Restlessness, irritability.
Persistent physical symptoms that don't respond to treatment (such as headaches, 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.
* As a first step, a thorough physical examination may be recommended to rule out other illnesses.
Help Is Available
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill | 1-800-950-NAMI |
National Depression Screening Project | 1-800-520-6373 |
DEPRESSION/Awareness, Recognition and Treatment Program, | 1-800-421-4211 |
National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association | 1-800-82-NDMDA |
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i Greenberg, P.E., Stiglin, LE, Finkelstein, SN, Berndt ER. The economic burden of depression in 1990. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 1993; 2:32-35
ii Employee Assistance Professionals Association 1996 Survey
iii First Chicago EAP Study, 1989-1992
iv JOM, Volume 36, Number 9, September 1994, p. 987
v Conti DJ, Burton, WN. Economic Impact of Depression in a Workplace. Journal of Occupational Environmental Medicine. 1994; 36:983-988.
vi American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Washington DC: American Psychiatric Association, 1994.
vii National Mental Health Association, Americans Attitudes Towards Depression Survey, 1996
For More Information:
For help finding treatment, support groups, medication information, help paying for your medications, your local Mental Health America affiliate, and other mental health-related services in your community, please click here to access our Frequently Asked Questions and Answers. If you or someone you know is in crisis now, seek help immediately. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a 24 hour crisis center or dial 911 for immediate assistance.
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