The High Costs of Depression in the Workplace

Posted on December 30, 2013 by VITAL WorkLife

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A recent Gallup® study, based upon 2010-2011 data collected as part of the Gallup-Healthways Wellbeing Index of ongoing surveys with US workers, found that depression costs US workplaces over $23 billion annually in absenteeism alone.

Findings included:

  • Full-time workers with a depression diagnosis had 4.3 more missed work days per year compared to those without a depression diagnosis.
  • Part-time workers had 5.0 more missed work days per year compared to those without a depression diagnosis.
  • Full-time workers with a diagnosis of depression make up 10.8% of the full-time US workforce and part-time workers with a depression diagnosis make up 16.6% of the part-time US workforce.

Other studies have shown that approximately twice as many adults have depression as have been diagnosed. And, when costs around presenteeism and other measures of lost productivity are taken into account, the cost to employers is even higher.

As the report concludes, "For leaders of organizations, proven strategies for improving the mental health of employees generally involve the allocation of resources for early identification and treatment, employee assistance programs, efforts to culturally de-stigmatize depression and its treatment in the workplace, and management education for addressing depression and its causes."

The use of employee assistance programs is also a focal point of a recently-unveiled initiative of the Partnership for Workplace Mental Health, a program of the American Psychiatric Foundation and Employers Health Coalition, Inc. called Right Direction. Its stated goal is to "raise awareness about stress and depression in the workplace, demystify the symptoms and treatments, and give the information needed to get help."

Depression is one of the top 10 reasons our members call us each year. When an employee or a family member contacts us, we can help determine if they are suffering from depression and then provide the assistance and support needed to get appropriate, effective help for their depression, as well as some of the associated issues that can accompany depression, e.g., relationships, family and work-related problems, etc.

Raising awareness around depression, de-mystifying it and helping your employees understand that they can obtain free, confidential support through their VITAL WorkLife EAP can go a long way toward furthering the well being of your workforce—and save money at the same time.

Contact us to access your resources and get the support you need.

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