Depression in the workplace is no small matter. From absenteeism to lost productivity to the cost of treatments, clinical depression can be a very serious – and expensive – issue to handle. It is, however, far more dangerous to ignore. Most people suffering from clinical depression can be treated – and becoming aware of depression in the workplace is the first step to take in overcoming it, for both employees and employers.

Facts About Depression

A lot of research has been done on clinical depression, from its symptoms to its root causes, from its effect on the people who suffer from it, to the best way to manage or overcome it.

Here are some basic facts about depression:

Depression affects roughly one in ten people.
Depression represents the leading cause for disability in people ages 15-44.
It is classified as one of the most debilitating conditions in the world, and those suffering from severe depression are rated on the same level of debilitation as those with terminal stage cancer.
Depression causes around 490 million missed work days each year in the United States alone.
Many depressed employees avoid treatment out of the concern that it will affect their job or that the treatment will not remain confidential.
Many employees are not even aware that their symptoms represent depression – or believe their insurance will not cover treatment costs.
The majority of employers have stated they would refer an employee somewhere to receive help if they became aware of the problem.

Identifying Workplace Depression

To start, it’s important to know that depression looks different in different people. Sometimes depression is easy to see and identify, and sometimes depression may look like something else entirely!

Fatigue – does the person always seem worn out or tired?
Unhappiness – does the person seem generally unhappy?
Forgetfulness – does the person seem excessively forgetful, or ‘out of it’?
Irritability – does the person seem agitated or irritable without reason?
Indecisiveness – does the person struggle to make decisions?
Lack of enthusiasm – does the person show a loss of interest in things they used to enjoy?
Restlessness – does the person seem restless, shifting around, fidgeting, or pacing a lot?
Slowness – or do they take a long time to move, speak, or take action?
Changes in appetite – does the person seem to be eating a lot more or a lot less than usual?
Feelings of worthlessness – does the person seem to be struggling with self worth?

Handling Depression in the Workplace

Most people are fundamentally empathetic, and it stands to reason that we want our workplace to be a happy one. So how do we handle depression in the workplace?

For one, it’s absolutely critical to make sure that your workplace conditions are designed to combat depression. This means that your workplace should be well-lit, with clean working space, clean air, a comfortable temperature, and minimal noise. Your workplace should have jobs that allow employees to make use of and develop their skills.

Employees should feel able to put forth their thoughts and opinions in a manner where they feel like their input matters, and employers should be open and supportive, instead of closed-off and focused on punishing mistakes. A workplace should have clear rules and expectations in place, with proper encouragement and praise for accomplishing tasks.

For employers, the most important thing you can do to help combat workplace depression is to pay attention. It may not be your responsibility to diagnose depression, but it is your responsibility to your employees to recognize and identify issues that may be interfering with workplace productivity – and depression is one of the worst offenders in this regard!