Treatment for depression yields greater productivity

A new report suggests that treatment can a make a world of difference for individuals who suffer from depression, particularly as it relates to how they perform while at work.

The study, which was conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, indicates that people who receive treatment tend to be more productive compared to those who don't.

Published in the latest issue of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, the study is believed to be the first of its kind that examines the possible correlation between workplace productivity and treatment for depression.

In order to arrive at their results, researchers recruited 3,000 workers, approximately 9 per cent of whom had experienced a depressive episode.

"People who had experienced a moderate depressive episode and received treatment were 2.5 times more likely to be highly productive compared with those who had no treatment," said Dr. Carolyn Dewa, head of CAMH's Centre for Research on Employment and Workplace Health, who was also the study's lead author. "Likewise, people who experienced severe depression were seven times more likely to be high-performing than those who had no treatment."

Dewa added that while these findings were exciting, there were also some troubling results that emerged. For example, among individuals who had suffered a severe depressive episode in the past, nearly 60 per cent never received treatment. And among those who had a moderate episode, 40 per cent did not seek help.

"When we look at the success of workers in the sample who received treatment while still in the workplace, it really speaks to the importance of prevention and the need for employers to facilitate treatment and support," said Dewa. "If people are able to receive treatment early, disability leave, which costs companies $18,000 per leave, may be avoided."

She also encouraged employers to actively reach out to their employees if they feel they may be suffering from depression, as all too often, workers won't reach out themselves due to fears they will be stigmatized or treated differently.

According to CAMH, treatment for mental illness costs approximately $51 billion annually in healthcare and lost productivity expenses

Health Canada estimates that about 11 per cent of men and 16 per cent of women in Canada will experience major depression at some point in their lives. Some of the most common symptoms of depression include feelings of despair and hopelessness, a general lack of energy, an inability to concentrate, change in sleep patterns, isolating oneself from others and crying for no apparent reason.

The contributing factors of depression are manifold, as some people may be genetically predisposed to the condition, while hormonal changes can cause depression as well. External factors can include experiencing financial difficulties, mourning the death of a loved one, friend or family member and troubles with addiction.

Just as the causes differ, so too do the treatments. Health Canada says the most common and effective treatments, however, tend to be psychological counselling combined with anti-depressant medications.