Depression
Depression is a medical illness that affects your mood, behavior, thinking and health. Depression is a common illness experienced by nearly one in 10 Americans each year. Depression does not discriminate; it affects men and women, young and old, and people of all races, cultures, and incomes.
It is normal to feel sadness or grief when a loved one dies, if you lose your job or a relationship ends. But sadness and depression are not the same. While feelings of sadness will lessen with time, depression is an illness that can continue for months, or even years without treatment.
Symptoms of Depression
There are two main symptoms of depression:
- Persistent feelings of sadness or anxiety
- Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities that lasts for more than two weeks
Other signs and symptoms include:
- Changes in appetite that result in weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
- Insomnia or oversleeping
- Loss of energy or increased fatigue
- Restlessness or irritability
- Feelings of worthlessness or persistent guilt
- Difficulty thinking, concentrating, remembering or making decisions
- Ongoing body aches and pains, or problems with digestion that are not caused by physical disease
- Increased drinking, cigarette smoking, or using prescription or illicit drugs
- Thoughts of death, suicide or attempted suicide – if this is the case seek help immediately
Employees with depression cost employers an estimated $44 billion per year in lost productive time.1 The good news is that treatment works: 70-80% of people with depression improve significantly with appropriate treatment, and almost all individuals receive some symptom relief and benefit from medical care.
Tips for Employers
Educate employees and managers about mental health disorders, including depression. Encourage employees to seek care when they need it by educating the workforce that mental illnesses are real and can be effectively treated. Teach supervisors how to (and how not to) intervene appropriately by focusing on job performance.
Screen for depression. Include depression screening in health risk appraisals and EAP programs. Work with health plans to incentivize clinicians to screen and ensure that appropriate systems are in place to follow up for diagnosis and treatment. Use the validated 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), available in multiple languages and formats.
Promote the use of employee assistance and health programs. Early intervention is key. Remind employees of the availability of resources for staying healthy and productive. Ensure that employees know how to access care confidentially and quickly by providing information on how to do so in multiple places and throughout the year. Heavily push these messages during times of stress, at the holidays, etc.
Integrate mental health educational messages in health communication strategies. Include content about depression in company newsletters, on the intranet and in other regular employee communication platforms.
References
1 Marlowe, J. F. (2002). Depression’s surprising toll on employee productivity. Employee Benefits Journal, March, 16-20.
Resources
The Depression Calculator is an online tool that allows employers to estimate the cost and productivity savings they will receive if they provide treatment options to employees who are struggling with depression.
Be able to provide your employees with the signs and symptoms of depression, and some tips on why and how to get help. We would be happy to send your office fifty brochures, free of charge. Please contact us for more information.
From Mental Health America, Live Your Life Well is a website designed to help you cope better with stress and create more of the life you want. The site also offers the PHQ-9 screening tool.