Depression in the Workplace

TickledPink · 05-19-2005, 02:55 PM

For most of us, work provides structure to our day, the opportunity to socialize, a sense of accomplishment, and a source of happiness. In other words, work can reduce the likelihood of becoming depressed.

There are many things you can do to achieve satisfaction in your work.

Some of the things you can do to remain happy and healthy at work:

pursue jobs that offer you an opportunity to develop your skills,
clarify the performance expectations that your boss or manager has for you,
ask for assistance to meet these expectations when you need it,
educate yourself about new technologies and learning new skills so that you remain interested and challenged, and
take advantage of company resources to help support you through difficult times (e.g. employee assistance, human resources
The manager's role in managing depression in the workplace

Depressive illnesses can affect an employee's productivity, judgment, ability to work with others, and overall job performance. The inability to concentrate fully or make decisions may lead to costly mistakes or accidents.

Changes in performance and on-the-job behaviors that may suggest an employee is suffering from a depressive illness include:

Decreased or inconsistent productivity
Absenteeism, tardiness, frequent absence from work station
Increased errors, diminished work quality
Procrastination, missed deadlines
Withdrawal from co-workers
Overly sensitive and/or emotional reactions
Decreased interest in work
Slowed thoughts
Difficulty learning and remembering
Slow movement and actions
Frequent comments about being tired all the time

Job Stress: How to Keep Your Cool

These same warning signs could point to any number of a broad range of problems. As a leader, resist the temptation to diagnose what you see as depression. Stick instead to just recognizing that something is wrong, and taking caring and respectful action to refer the employee to the company employee assistance professional or occupational health nurse.

It's time to talk with an employee when you've noticed several of the warning signs listed above. The sooner you have this conversation, the better.

This is a chance for you to express care and concern, provide feedback on job performance, and refer the employee to a resource that can help. If you're not sure when or how to begin your conversation with the employee, contact your employee assistance professional or occupational health nurse for ideas and suggestions.

As the employee with depression

If you are employed and feeling depressed, seek advice. Your company may have resources to help you (e.g., an employee assistance professional or occupational health nurse) or you can seek outside help (e.g., family doctor). It is important to keep working if you are able. Do whatever you are capable of doing. Doing nothing, and resting in bed, will only complicate your feelings of worthlessness and contribute to your depressed mood.

As a co-worker of someone who is depressed…

If you know someone in the workplace who may be depressed, talk with them and encourage them to seek help from a company resource (the employee assistance professional or occupational health nurse) or their doctor.

Look for signs such as these:
fatigue
unhappiness
excessive forgetfulness
irritability
propensity for crying spells
indecisiveness
lack of enthusiasm
withdrawal
You will know whether or not to help someone if you notice their depressed mood continues unabated for weeks, they don't appear to enjoy their usual interests, or if they have a sense of gloom about them.

Source: Scott Wallace, Ph.D., R.Psych.

Source: http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Depression/related/work.asp

j_gee21nc · 06-11-2005, 09:21 PM

Do you think it's ok for your bosses to know you are depressed? I always worry about them finding out and what they will think. I just always say that I am tired and they usually leave it at that since they know that I stay at work late. I am hoping that they are just assuming that I truly am tired.

his_angel · 06-11-2005, 09:29 PM

From time to time I will let the teacher I work w/ know. These cases are normally if I am on the brink of tears & I don't want the kids to see, or if I extremely irritable. (She's had days when she's irritable & we kinda tag-team it.) She knows I'm ttc & when my hormones went haywire last month, she totally understood. She also knows that I suffer from migraines & if I need to go lie down in the clinic for a while to be able to function, that's fine just as long as it doesn't interfere w/ the entire day.

TickledPink · 06-11-2005, 09:55 PM

I think open and honest is the best way to be, cause then they might think other things are going on.

(((((hugs)))))

j_gee21nc · 06-11-2005, 10:35 PM

I am just worried to admit it. Worried they will think I am crazy, cuz sometimes I feel like I am. Plus who is going to want someone with mental problems working with their children? I just hate always feeling so down.

his_angel · 06-11-2005, 11:06 PM

You may be surprised at how many 'normal' people suffer w/ things like these. I work w/ Special Ed kids & we've come to find that several parents deal w/ all kinds of 'issues' including depression. People have a tendency to 'mask' it & try to put on a happy face, which sometimes hurts more than helps. If you let one (maybe 2 or 3, depending on your sit) and at the same time let them know that you are taking steps (w/ your dr) to prevent it from interfering w/ work, that will show them how responsible you are.

j_gee21nc · 06-12-2005, 01:45 AM

Are you talking about letting people at work or the parents know? Both ideas are very scary to me. Although I can do it here, it is normally very hard for me to discuss my problems. All I know, is I am glad summer is here. This year for summer school I volunteered to be the secretary (which the school system agreed to since I am bilingual. I just felt too overwhelmed to teach anymore this year. I have to work during summer school because I am broke and trying to help my mom out and help her to move down here (yet another source of stress) but I felt therre would be no way I could make it through teaching summer school. Towards the end of the school year, I was having a really hard time covering it up. Even students were starting to notice. On told me that I looked like I needed to go to bed earlier. Another one (who I teach english to her mom and we have gotten to be friends and found that we both suffer from migraines) came to my classroom one day after I had just finished crying and asked me if I was ok and if I was having a migraine. I lied and told her yes. It was just the easiest way out. I don't want my students or the people at work to see me like this. Sometimes I feel that this depression is taking over my life.

lisadukk · 06-12-2005, 03:11 AM

kinda long, put i do have a point, i promise

i can understand with the idea of depression taking over your life.....
i have those days/weeks/months and it seems like years...

BUT when i am on the right meds the difference is like night and day.

i am feeling better, but have been so disappointed with my dr that if he doesn't explain himself when i see him this week, it will be the last time i see him....a whole other thread.

tellling your boss is a difficult one. when i was at one job, my boss knew as well as all the other managers because i got up in the middle of a meeting and left, i ended up in the hospital for a week. they were very understanding, until that manager left and the new gm was a real flake. the manager after him was such a wienie and she couldn't stand up for herself or do anything herself. i really felt i was set up, i left work for a dr appt late, no coverage, yet when i showed up after my appt, my manager, district manager and loss prevention manager for the district were there. they said i was late and had no excuse and it wasn't the first time and i was fired. i should have pursued the termination and fought it. it is a regret that i live with to this day.

i digress. if your boss is aware, if you are comfortable enough to discuss it with them, life can be so much easier. sometimes someone else can tell when you are haveing symptoms that you yourself might not really recognize and let you know about it, or let you knw and ease up on you or give you the extra support that you might need.

my suggestion.....i had a thought, i really did

is to call the hr (human resources) dept of the company. do it without giving a name and just ask questions about how mental illness or depression is handled with the company or what the policy is.

i hope this makes some sense......awesome article miss pink

TickledPink · 06-12-2005, 04:15 PM

my husband is the manager of a retail chain, and he would want you to come to him and tell him the truth, as he is very understanding, probably because I suffer from things which makes him more sympathetic.

I know there are bosses out there that wouldn't be as receptive, and that really sucks!

fairygirl · 06-14-2005, 01:31 AM

Hey Tickledpink, I really liked the info on depression in the workplace, thank you. I am managing a small team now but a year ago I was managing a much larger team. I have always asked my staff to be open with me, I would much rather know everything that was bothering them so we could find the best way for them to feel fulfilled with their work, and comfortable taking a sick day just because they were run down.

But on the same token I'm a hypocrite because I'm too scared to tell my boss how I feel. I think I always have to put on a brave face no matter what.

I think the more people that are open about the way they feel the better. Many people experience this sort of stuff and the more open dialogue that goes on about it the better. Well thats what I think anyway.

Fairy wishes to you all. This is not a fun thing to go through at all.

And cheers to crying, I think crying can be great to get rid of sad feelings, and I think it is perfectly normal.

TickledPink · 06-14-2005, 10:26 AM

some work places have a 24hr hotline with real doctors and psychologists who can help you! i know wal-mart has this, it's called resources for living, and you can call them for whatever you like.

j_gee21nc · 06-14-2005, 11:37 AM

I don't really think that my school system offers anything like that. Plus I don't think that I could call anonamously (spelling???) because many of them know my voice because they call me to translate from the central office. Plus although I get depressed often, I actually like work. It's probably one of the few good things right now and sometimes the kids cheer me up. I am looking into see a private psychologist but just haven't gotten around to making the call.