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Expert Commentary
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| By Jane Chin, Ph.D. of Jane Chin Associates on Oct 18 2007 7:13PM |
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| Work Place Depression Common in Healthcare Workers |
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The Office of Applied Studies (OAS) in the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a study looking at the rate of work place depression from years 2004-2006 in workers ages 18-64. They found that each year, about 7% of full time workers experienced major depression, and the highest rates of depression occurred in those working in the personal care and service industry (10.8%). Healthcare practitioners and technicians came in at 3rd place with a depression rate of 9.6%.
Female workers reported a higher incidence of depression than male workers; this was a trend across the board regardless of occupation type. I found interesting that female workers in management reported 3 times as much depression (9.5%) versus male workers in management (3.3%). Other mental health surveys already suggest a higher rate of depression in females compared with males, and the OAS data does not suggest that there are factors in the workplace specific to females that could have caused a higher incidence of depression in females. However, one may speculate that certain disparities in the workplace may be a factor contributing to depression in female workers.
Depression in the work place is real, and cannot be ignored. Given our love affair with work, it is important to recognize signs of depression early and receive appropriate treatment.
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