Understanding and Managing Depression in a Professional Setting
Depression can be quite debilitating, and it doesn’t simply turn off when people go to work. Symptoms of depression affect every aspect of life, including productivity at work and overall performance. For that reason, it’s essential to understand how depression manifests itself in a professional setting and learn how to manage this condition. In this post, we’re going to shed more light on this incredibly important subject; scroll down to learn more about depression in a professional setting.
Understanding and Managing Depression in a Professional Setting
Causes of depression in a professional setting
Prevalence of depression
Depression, a common mental disorder, affects around 5% of adults, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The same report indicates that approximately 280 million people worldwide have depression. This mental health condition is 50% more common in women than in men.
On a national level, depression affects more than 8%, or 21 million American adults, each year. Around 15%, or 3.7 million youth (12-17 years), are affected by depression in the United States.
Back in 2021, up to 14.5 million, or 5.7% of U.S. adults, experienced at least one major depressive episode with severe impairment in the past year.
Symptoms of Depression in a Professional Setting
First and foremost, symptoms of depression affect everyone differently. They vary in intensity and duration. The most common signs of depression in a professional setting include:
Persistent sadness, anxiousness, and feelings of emptiness
Changes in appetite and weight
Restlessness
Headaches, chronic pain, and digestive issues
Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and hopelessness
Loss of interest in work-related tasks
Social isolation
Increased absenteeism and tardiness
Fatigue or loss of energy
Causes of depression in a professional setting
Depression itself results from a combination of different factors such as genetics, environmental, psychological, and psychological factors.
In a workplace setting, depression occurs from a combination of several factors as well. One of those factors is stress. Evidence confirms that stressful work is associated with a higher risk of depression.
Long working hours can also contribute to the onset of depressive symptoms. Studies reveal that long working hours can negatively affect workers’ psychological health. The reason is simple – this type of arrangement impairs work-life balance and reduces a person’s quality of life. As a result, their mental health suffers.
Job insecurity may also pave the way to depression. A fear of losing a job or being unable to advance in a career may induce feelings of hopelessness.
Yet another factor that contributes to depression in a professional setting is bullying or any type of harassment. Negative interactions with colleagues and/or superiors can affect mental health and contribute to social isolation and depression.
Managing Depression in a Professional Setting
As severe as it can be, depression is a manageable mental health disorder. Various strategies help manage depression in a professional setting. Some of them include:
Promoting mental health awareness: Employers should encourage open discussions about mental health and depression. Doing so can help educate employees and managers on recognizing the signs of depression. Informational resources, workshops, and seminars help break the stigma and encourage people to seek support for depression and the symptoms they’re experiencing.
Implementing Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): The role of EAPs is to offer confidential counseling services and mental health resources to employees who are dealing with mental health challenges. These programs are essential for connecting employees with professional help.
Supporting work-life balance: Since impaired work-life balance is a major contributor to depression in a workplace setting, it is essential to address this problem. A good balance between work commitments and personal life prevents stress and burnout and improves overall well-being. This can be achieved with flexible work schedules, remote work opportunities, and reasonable workloads.
Fostering a supportive environment at work: A positive workplace culture that values inclusivity and empathy can make a huge difference in employee mental health. Supportive peer relationships create a sense of belonging and security. In this environment, a person doesn’t feel isolated, which can help manage symptoms of depression.
People with depression have numerous options at their disposal to manage their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life. There’s a lot that every person with this serious problem can do to feel better.
The most important thing to do is to seek professional help. Although you may feel reluctant to do so, thinking you don’t need it, this is incredibly important. The therapist can help you adopt healthy coping skills and recommend the best options to manage depression and its symptoms.
In addition to regular therapies, it’s essential to establish boundaries between work and personal life. For example, you can avoid doing work-related tasks during your time off. Setting boundaries helps people reclaim their life back, prevents burnout, and improves job satisfaction. All these things are useful for managing depression.
Stress management techniques are also useful for people with depression. Practices such as yoga, meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing, and similar activities improve emotional resilience by keeping you focused on the specific moment. That way, you won’t pay that much attention to negative and irrational thoughts, which may be feeding your depression.
Feel free to discuss your symptoms with colleagues and supervisors. Being transparent about your struggles may lead to accommodations and additional support within the workplace.
A proactive approach is crucial for managing depression in a professional setting. Prioritize a healthy lifestyle, such as regular exercise, a well-balanced diet, and a healthy sleep pattern. A healthy lifestyle is beneficial for your body and mental health alike. This can translate to increased motivation at work, better resilience during stressful times, and improved satisfaction.
Conclusion
Depression doesn’t pick time and place. People who develop depression experience the symptoms in every aspect of their life, including work. A combination of work-related factors can contribute to depressive symptoms. Establishing a healthy work environment that cultivates open discussions and inclusivity is one way to protect the mental health of everyone involved. Plus, every person should also be proactive about their mental health and adopt healthy lifestyle measures that improve their physical and psychological well-being.