Recognizing Workplace Depression by Chuck Morris, BCSW Over the course of our lives we all will suffer periods of distress, disappointment and loss. These feelings are normal reactions to life events. The distress we feel usually will fade with the passing of time. There is a difference, however, between this fairly normal reaction to events and what we call clinical depression. One difference is the variation in intensity and duration of the low mood with its sadness, helplessness and hopelessness. Clinical depression is a much more serious and debilitating condition. Unfortunately, we have used the word depression to mean many different things. This can confuse the issues. For the purpose of this article depression will mean a diagnosable behavioral disorder with generally accepted description and treatment. A conservative estimate would be that one in 10 Americans suffer from clinical depression. This is an equal opportunity disease. Depression knows no boundaries, age, race or gender. Women do tend to seek treatment more, but the incidence among men should not be underestimated. There are huge costs associated with untreated depression. It is estimated that untreated depression costs our society over $43 billion each year in such things as lost work effectiveness, absenteeism and health care costs. It has been shown that untreated depression causes us to be more prone to physical illnesses, to have more accidents and to have chronic illnesses become worse. In its most intense form, of those who suffer from severe depression, about 15 percent will attempt and complete suicide. Sadly, much of the cost associated with this disease is avoidable. When recognized and treated appropriately, the success rate can be as high as 80 percent. With early recognition, intervention and support, most employees can overcome their hesitation to get help. Stigma associated with getting this kind of help still exists, but it is waning. Being prepared to deal with this disease makes good business sense. Supervisors and coworkers can make a big impact by noticing and responding to employees who are in need of assistance in this area. Employers can train supervisors to be alert to symptoms of depression, and to encourage the person to seek help. Oftentimes a brief course of treatment can make a large difference in the person's mood. It might be that the employee just needs someone to act as a sounding board, to have an opportunity to vent, to review, to make plans to deal with a difficult situation or to do problem solving with a more objective outsider. These are all possible aspects of talk therapy. Medication may be indicated as well. Some businesses have organized a response to employees who may be depressed. It is not necessary that supervisors and managers be able to diagnose or treat such disorders. It is enough that they know how to recognize the warning signs and have a process in place to offer appropriate support and possible treatment. Thibodaux Regional Medical Center offers one possible referral resource for your employees who may need help with depression. Our Outpatient Counseling Program is available and capable of assessing and treating clinical depression. Additionally, we are available to speak with supervisors and managers of businesses and organizations regarding a more formalized approach to these issues known as Employee Assistance Programs. For more information contact Chuck Morris, Behavioral Health Center, 493-4437. return to health articles