MedClick

Depression is now a very common illness. At some point in their life, approximately one in every five women and one in ten men will suffer from depression. Obviously, a problem as common as this will also be common in the workplace. In any year, about three in ten employees will have a mental health problem and depression is the most common.

Even one employee so affected can have a major impact on a small company. The illness can result in a drop in productivity, a diminution in efficiency and can result in frequent or long-term sick leave and may be responsible for accidents and high staff turnover.

What Is Depression?

Many people will say they feel depressed when, in fact, they are simply a bit 'down'. Being fed up, miserable or sad is often a normal response to adverse personal circumstances. This may be the death of a relative, the break up of a relationship or the loss of a job. This sort of sadness usually passes with time. Only when it becomes severe, unremitting and dominates most of a person's life, does it truly deserve the title of depression and need to be treated as a medical illness.

If you or someone you know thinks they may be depressed, the following will provide a guide to symptoms, which will indicate that help will probably be required.

Symptoms may include:

• Sadness which does not change from day to day

  
  

• Crying for no apparent reason

  
  

• Anxiety, worrying irritability or tension

  
  

• Disturbed sleep

  
  

• Reduced appetite and change in weight

  
  

• Tiredness, lethargy and lack of motivation

  
  

• Loss of interest in normal activities

  
  

• Forgetfulness and poor concentration

  
  

• Thoughts of worthlessness and hopelessness

  
  

This list is not complete. There may be other, less troublesome or less specific problems which may include panic attacks, short attention span, increased reliance on drugs, alcohol and nicotine, low self-esteem and muscular tension.

Of course, stress in the workplace does not necessarily mean the problem was brought about by work. Personal problems arise outside of the workplace, but work may become a contributory factor in the progression if not checked.

Effects of Depression on Work

Colleagues will frequently notice a change in the personality of a co-worker who is suffering depression. They may also be aware of factors which have contributed to it. The kind of behaviour employees may notice in their colleagues may include the following:

• Working more slowly than usual

  
  

• Making mistakes

  
  

• Inability to concentrate

  
  

• Forgetful

  
  

• Poor timekeeping or missing meetings

  
  

• Not turning up

  
  

• Getting into disputes or arguments with colleagues

  
  

• Inability to delegate tasks

  
  

• Working or trying to work, too hard

  
  

Many people with depression try to keep going but are aware that they are working at far less than their normal capacity. Only by recognising depression for what it is and offering help can an affected person return to normal.

How to Help

Depression is never an easy topic to broach - and may be even less so with a colleague or subordinate. However, it can be really helpful for someone who is depressed to hear that people are concerned about them. The earlier someone seeks help, the more effective treatment is likely to be. When depression is really severe, sick leave may need to be taken but if caught early; many employees are able to return to work within a few weeks.

If you feel you recognise the signs of depression in a colleague, it is also important to realise that the affected person will be aware that things are not right and they may well fear for their jobs. This is a natural reaction and will probably mean that they carry on - even though they are not being particularly productive.

There is little point addressing the issue until you are sure what resources are available. Recognising the problem without offering some sort of strategy with which to deal with it is almost worse than not recognising it at all. So before you approach anyone with what you suspect to be depression, make sure you know where he or she can go for help. Many companies have an Occupational Health Department, which may well be the first port of call as they will be familiar with the demands and conditions of the workplace. Sufferers should be reminded that their GP is well equipped to deal with this problem and that the sooner a visit is made, the better.

Some companies have a mental health policy which aims to provide a workplace that encourages the prompt and effective treatment of mental health problems and thus improve the morale of the workforce and reduce the costs of sickness absence. This is a real innovation, but hopefully, a move which will prove more popular, as mental health issues become better recognised and an accepted part of modern life.

Diagnosis

Most people with depression are diagnosed and treated by their GP, who may well carry out other tests to exclude the possibility of other medical problems causing the symptoms. He will also ask about the lifestyle and life events of the person concerned. A referral may be made to a mental health professional (psychologist or counsellor), as there are many accepted interventions for depression; cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), counselling and medication, to name but three. If the depression is very severe, the GP may refer the sufferer to a psychiatrist in order to expedite the process.

The Way Forward

Education about mental health issues is the only way forward. This education, to be effective, must extend throughout the entire workforce. It is important to realise that those people unfortunate enough to be affected by depression (or any mental problem, for that matter), are not weak or ineffectual. Mental illness can strike just as randomly as appendicitis.

We need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of depression; the causes and the possible interventions. How to be sure a sufferer receives the help he or she needs and what to expect in terms of the need for sick leave and support, once they return to work.

The Occupational Health Department if the company has one, can be very valuable in this type of situation. The staff of such a department are able to work closely with GP's and other health professionals to ensure that return to work is handled well and the employee is not given more work than they feel comfortable with. They are also in an ideal position to monitor the employee's progress, whilst maintaining the necessary confidentiality.

Depression may not be caused by the workplace, but stress in the workplace may well be a contributory factor to a depressive illness. Just as it is sure that people in all walks of life will be depressed at some point in their lives, depression will appear in the workplace. If we all know the signs to watch for and understand what it is we should be doing, when we recognise those signs in ourselves or in others, then we will be able to make a difference to the outcome of this illness.

Support Groups

Depression Alliance. 212 Spitfire Studios, 67-71 Collier St, London N1 0BE Tel 08451232320

AWARE - Helping to beat Depression: 147 Phibsboro Road, Dublin 7, Ireland Tel: (01) 830 6840

MIND: Granta House, 15-19 Broadway, London, E15 4BQ.Tel: 020 8519 2122