Social Work Today E-Zine

The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) has formally adopted a new position statement on depression in the workplace—a condition it says is an increasing drain on workforce productivity.

In its statement, “Depression in the Working Population,” the ACOEM identifies workplace depression as a major contributor to absenteeism and presenteeism (a condition in which workers are on the job, but not fully functional) among employers, with an estimated cost of $36 billion in lost productivity per year.

The new position statement provides a comprehensive update on the incidence and impact of workplace depression and calls for a new approach to managing the disorder, including programs to improve coping skills, screening programs, and the promotion of early treatment.

Among the findings in the ACOEM’s new statement:

• Only about half of depressed workers are receiving any treatment and less than one half of these receive care that is consistent with current treatment guidelines for organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association.

• Because so few workers are treated for depression, workplace productivity is impacted significantly. Studies show increases in absenteeism and unemployment, as well as disruptive effects on work organization and increased health and disability costs.

• Depression tends to strike workers earlier than other chronic diseases and may affect productivity for a much longer period. Unlike conditions such as cardiovascular disease or hypertension, depression often strikes very early in a worker’s career, creating a disease burden that may last for decades in the workplace.

— Source: American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine