Depression in the Workplace. How to Recognise It?

What is depression and what is its incidence?

Catherine, a 35-year-old manager in the HR department, has always been an energetic person and committed to her professional duties. She led her team with success and knew how to motivate its members to work more efficiently. Over time, however, she noticed that it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to get up, and daily duties began to overwhelm her. The stress of the company’s deadlines and expectations became unbearable, and overtime made her lack time for anything other than her professional responsibilities.

To cope with the tension, she began to stress-eat sweets and reach for a bottle of wine before bed. At work, she avoided conversations, felt exhausted and increasingly thought her efforts were pointless. Co-workers initially thought it was just temporary fatigue, but over time they noticed that Catherine was increasingly taking sick leave, was sometimes irritable and had difficulty concentrating. These are typical symptoms of depression in the workplace – a problem that affects not only managers, but employees at every level.

Depression is a serious mental disorder characterised by prolonged lowering of mood, loss of motivation and energy, and difficulties in daily functioning.

How to recognise it? To speak of depression or a depressive episode from a clinical point of view, according to the ICD-11 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems), at least five of the following ten symptoms must be present for at least two weeks:

1. depressed mood,
2. markedly reduced interest in or enjoyment of the activity,
3. decreased ability to concentrate and maintain attention or marked indecision,
4. belief in low self-worth or excessive, inappropriate guilt,
5. hopelessness in thoughts of the future,
6. recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts,
7. significantly disturbed sleep or excessive sleep,
8. significant changes in appetite or weight,
9. psychomotor agitation or retardation,
10. reduced energy or fatigue.

Depression affects 350 million people worldwide, including about 1.2 million Poles. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is one of the most common diseases in the world and one of the leading causes of disability. Depression is most commonly diagnosed among people aged 20-40. According to statistics, twice as many women as men suffer from depression, but it is men who have a higher suicide rate.

Consequences of untreated depression

Untreated depression can lead to serious consequences – both for the individual and the organisation. Chronic depression increases the risk of other mental disorders, such as anxiety, job burnout and addiction. It can also contribute to health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system. People suffering from depression often have difficulty concentrating, making decisions and completing tasks, which affects their professional performance and can lead to job loss.

Untreated depression results in frequent sick leave. On the other hand, some employees come to work despite their poor mental state, which negatively affects their productivity and team atmosphere. From January to July 2024, 12.5 million medical certificates were issued to people insured with Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), amounting to 138.4 million days of sickness absence. The current ZUS report on absenteeism shows that mental disorders are one of the more common causes of sick leave (12.5% of all types of leave – 17.2 million days). People with depression often withdraw from social life and have difficulty interacting with others, which can lead to conflict, loneliness and further aggravation of the problem. In extreme cases, depression can lead to suicidal thoughts and attempts.

How to recognise depression in a co-worker?

The work environment has a huge impact on the mental health of employees. Depression most often develops as a result of high demands, pressure and excess responsibilities, as well as the constant need to achieve results. Lack of support from superiors and co-workers leads to isolation, and poor communication exacerbates feelings of loneliness. Stress and anxiety levels are also raised by job insecurity and fear of job loss. In turn, the lack of work-life balance results in overwork, which promotes lowered mood. Companies that do not care about the mental well-being of employees often face higher absenteeism rates.

People working in different jobs may experience depression differently. According to Karasek’s model, employees who face high demands while having little control over their tasks are more prone to stress and depression. Depressive symptoms are also more likely to be experienced by those on short-term contracts or in precarious work, as well as by employees who must suppress their emotions (such as those working in customer service and team leaders).

Not every temporary dip in mood or blues means depression, but there are some symptoms that should draw our attention, especially if they persist for at least two weeks:

• withdrawing from contacts and avoiding conversations,
• decrease in efficiency, difficulty concentrating,
• frequent sick leave,
• apathy, lack of motivation to act,
• changes in behaviour – greater irritability, extreme emotional reactions,
• increase in errors at work, difficulty with decision-making.

How to support a co-worker with depression?

If you notice that someone on your team is struggling with lowered mood, it is worth showing support. What can you do? Let’s start with what to avoid. You shouldn’t:

• Judge, for example: “You used to be so cheerful. It’s toxic to grieve all the time”, “You’re just being lazy”.
• Comment, criticise and ridicule, for example: “You spoil the mood of others”, “You are an energy vampire”.
• Advise without due thought, presenting your “golden recipes” for happiness, for example: “Start meditating or doing yoga and you’ll get over it”.
• Compare, for example: “Others are definitely worse off. People are dying in war, and you’re making excuses. Get a grip and appreciate what you have”, “People lose their homes and somehow live on”.
• Say: “Think positively! Life is beautiful!”, “Cheer up!”.

Instead, you can:

• Show empathy and concern – ask if everything is okay, listen without judging or advising.
• Offer to help – such as taking over some of the responsibilities for a short period of time, helping to find a solution, offering to spend time together in a non-intrusive way.
• Encourage the use of a specialist – companies can offer access to psychological consultations as part of employee benefits and create various psycho-educational campaigns and workshops on mental health.
• Educate yourself about depression – the more knowledge you have about what your colleague is struggling with, the better you can support them.

How to create a work environment conducive to mental health?

Employers can play a key role in counteracting depression by:

• promoting open communication about mental health,
• providing training for leaders and HR professionals on how to recognise and support employees with depression,
• ensuring flexible working hours and remote work possibilities,
• providing psychological support and mental health programs for employees,
• building a work culture based on cooperation and mutual support.

Depression in the workplace is a real problem that affects both individual employees and the entire organisation. Appropriate preventive measures, support from co-workers and leaders, and attention to a healthy atmosphere at work can significantly reduce the risk of its occurrence. Employers who take care of their team’s mental well-being not only improve work comfort, but also increase the efficiency and loyalty of their employees.

References:

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11.  ICD-11 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems)