Depression at Work

Starting today, the UK is recognizing Depression Awareness Week, and as a result the local media have been examining how depression affects people in every aspect of their life—from their relationships to their jobs to their daily functions.

One study by Depression Alliance, a non-profit in London devoted to helping people with the condition, found that the stigma of depression permeates through the workplace, claiming that one third of eligible workers have been turned down for a job because of their mental health. In addition, 71% of those polled won't explain their conditions to colleagues or managers for fear that it could put their careers in jeopardy.

Since depression affects approximately 20 million people in the United States, it's safe to assume that many of those people are in jobs that they fear will be jeopardized if word got out that they had the condition. This doesn't mean that you can't continue to thrive in your current position despite your illness.

Fawn Fitter, co-author, with Beth Gulas, of Working in the Dark: Keeping Your Job While Dealing with Depression, says that instead of telling your colleagues that you have depression it may be better to take some time off to get the help you need. If you can't get time off, try to change your schedule to work at home or shift responsibilities.

However you decide to deal with your depression at your job, the fact is that you're making an effort to do your job well while you're sick. Working every day, believe it or not, can go a long way to helping you recover from depression. [The Guardian]