GUEST COMMENTARY

Boost Profit and Morale by Addressing Workplace Depression
BY Vidushi Babber, MD

Although it’s not talked about as much, depression is one of the most expensive health concerns in offices across America—more than heart disease, more than cancer, more than diabetes. Depression results in more than 200 million workdays lost each year in the United States.

Decreased Productivity
Patients with depressive symptoms spend more days in bed than do those with diabetes, arthritis, back problems, or lung or gastrointestinal disorders, according to a RAND Corporation study. More than $411 billion in other costs accrue from decreased productivity due to symptoms that sap energy, affect work habits, increase stress, and cause problems with concentration and decision making. If the employee’s depression contributes to alcoholism or drug abuse, the costs escalate. Experts estimate that every depressed employee costs his or her employer more than $3,000 annually because of lost productivity. According to a study published last year in the American Journal of Psychiatry and funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, major mental disorders cost the nation at least $193 billion annually in lost earnings alone.

Obviously, the problem is one that needs to be addressed. In my practice, I quickly noticed that a common complaint and source of stress was depression in the workplace. When I began looking at the problem from a business owner’s perspective, it became clear just how much money businesses were losing due to unproductive employees—people who desperately need help. I believe if business leaders were more aware of the vast amount of money being lost due to a depressed workforce, they would realize the benefit of implementing the solid techniques and educational programs that are available to deal with it.

Creating Awareness
Statistics show that depression affects up to 30% of women and 11% of men in the United States. And because depression also tends to affect people between ages 20 and 50, their most productive time in the workforce, it is estimated that 10% to 20% of the workforce is clinically depressed at any point in time. Depression is also the leading cause of disability worldwide. This pervasive problem greatly affects corporate America. Companies could gain ground by addressing this issue with their employees. They would not only help their bottom line by increasing productivity and thus, profits, but they would also shine a spotlight on an area that has been ignored for too long despite the availability of treatment. Just bringing awareness to the table will make a tremendous difference in morale—which directly influences the bottom line.

Looking into creative ways to increase profits is every business leader’s goal; when that goal boosts employees’ mental health, it truly creates a win-win scenario and one that today’s brightest companies cannot afford to overlook.

Dr. Vidushi Babber is a medical director, speaker, author, and practicing psychiatrist in the Washington, DC, area. She is also the Executive Producer and Host of PRN, a weekly television show by and for physicians. Dr. Babber can be reached through her Website at www.drbabber.com.

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