14 DAY TRIAL // Depression is one of the darkest and most versatile demons of our age. Statistics show that 15% of the population of most developed countries suffers from severe depression, and most of those affected by this extremely dangerous affliction are women. In fact, researchers predict that, by 2020, depression is most likely to become the second largest global killer after heart disease. Ineffective medical treatment and the social stigma associated with being depressed (statistics also indicate that 54% of people believe depression is a personal weakness) mean that most patients who suffer from it are not getting professional help, and this comes with tragic consequences.
The corollary of this is that depression is the most common reason for sick leave, resulting in more absenteeism than any other physical condition and being one of the frequent reasons for which employees claim long-term sickness benefit. It costs employers an estimate of $51 billion every year because of lost productivity, plus the extra high medical and pharmaceutical bills. Under these circumstances, occupational therapists say that one of the best ways to advance the recovery of people with depression is not to isolate them from their colleagues and professional activity, but rather to allow them to return to work and create a flexible environment to accommodate their needs.
In other words, work is apparently something that keeps us sane, rather than drive us insane. Coming back to work should, of course, not be motivated by reasons such as "make up for lost time" or "increase productivity," but rather by a desire to promote recovery. "Employers are often frightened of contacting an employee for fear of being accused of harassment but sympathetic contact and early help through occupational health can identify the most appropriate support," explained Dr Gordon Parker, member of the Society of Occupational Medicine in the UK. What this means is that, with the right approach, organized activities and exercising our reasoning skills at the workplace can be very good news for all of us.