Depression

Depression affects 1 in 20 employees in the workplace. It can affect anyone and can be caused by a number of different factors. It most often affects those between the ages of 24-44, an age group that are usually in their working years¹. If left undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to costly affects in the workplace due to:

Increased absenteeism
Increased disability costs and claims
Increased costs to hire and train new employees

What can employers do?

It is important for employers to look out for the signs and symptoms of depression which include:

Difficulty in making decisions
Decreased productivity
Inability to concentrate
Decline in dependability
Unusual increase in errors in work
Being prone to accidents
Frequent tardiness, increased “sick” days
Lack of enthusiasm for work¹

In addition to recognizing the signs and symptoms of depression, there are a number of other things that employers can do to both prevent the onset of depression, and in treating those experiencing the illness. For example:

Provide information and presentations about mental health issues (such as depression)
Ensure that managers and supervisors are knowledgeable about depression and how to support their employees
Develop and implement mental health policies for the workplace
Promote Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and encourage employees to use these programs and services
Encourage employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance
Provide support and accommodation to those employees experiencing depression

Video

National standard for psychological health and safety in Canadian workplaces

References

Canadian Mental Health Association (2015). Depression in the Workplace. Ontario. Retrieved from http://ontario.cmha.ca/mental_health/depression-in-the-workplace/