Training & Development
One of the greatest challenges facing employers, in an environment where staff numbers are reduced and when performance and productivity levels need to be higher than before, is how to deal with stress and anxiety among staff before depression takes hold.
In this article, Jenny Hayes, Head of Management Training within IBEC (Irish Business and Employers’ Confederation) explains the facts and discusses what employers should be doing to help
work enables a person to cope with the demands of their role, ensuring they are productive and positive when they are at work.
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One way to think about mental well being is by looking at how well a person functions, does their job and interacts with others at work. The good news is that, in more than 80% of cases, treatment is effective, so knowing when to identify when a staff member is stressed, anxious or depressed, and then having the skills to deal with it effectively, is the best course of action for any employer.
Depression begins with stress, which is when the perceived demands of the job are greater than the person’s perceived ability to cope. The importance of the outcome will determine the level of stress experienced. It is when stress levels are not managed by the person, or continue for an extended length of time, that the person moves into the anxiety arena. This is a state of fear, which affects the person on a range of levels, including productivity, ability to relate to others, loss of appetite and more. It is when this feeling of anxiety persists for a period of time that a person can enter the depression area, with the level of depression ranging from mild to severe.
Overall then, mental health describes how we think and feel about ourselves as well as
epression, often called the common cold of mental illness, may be defined as an illness that involves the body, mood and thought. Good mental health at
Up skilling managers to identify stress and anxiety among their teams, and to intervene when needed in order to prevent the situation getting worse, is one of the most effective ways of supporting people at work and ensuring staff feel engaged, cared for and motivated
how able we are to cope with change and significant life events that we encounter. This article will look at the facts about depression, symptoms in the workplace, and the role of the organisation.
The Facts about Depression
It is estimated that 5-10% of the population suffer from depression at any given time Research shows that, by 2020, depression will become the second most common illness in the western world. Mental health problems account for up to 30% of consultations with GPs in Europe. Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood and thoughts.
In Ireland, 85% of people agree that anyone can experience mental health problems, but 62% would not want others knowing if they had a mental health problem. Experts estimate that approximately one out of every two families will have some member of the family who suffers from depression at one point in their lives. Depression at work manifests itself through changes in performance and behavioural change.
Success at work depends on everyone’s contribution. Organisations cannot afford to ignore depression at work. When you are stressed, your brain works differently. You are more likely to resort to ‘all or nothing’ thinking, which causes catastrophic thinking and difficulties solving complex problems.
It is not a passing mood. It is not a personal weakness. It is a major, but treatable illness. Patients with depressive symptoms spend more days in bed than those with diabetes, arthritis and back problems. Women are twice as likely to experience depression as men. The average period of time that a person suffers from depression (apart from endogenous depression), if left untreated, is eight months.
When a person is stressed, their brain works differently. This can often lead to ‘all or nothing’ thinking, which reduces effectiveness in solving problems. Two thirds of both men and women say work has a significant impact on their stress levels.
” Signs of Depression in the Workplace
Usually, the symptoms of depression develop over time. Typically, the employee experiences anxiety and mild depressive periods that range from weeks to several months. The time when an employee is most likely to suffer from depression is when they are aged between twenty-four and forty-four years old. Depression in the workplace shows itself through changes in performance and behaviours, which include:
1. Decreased or inconsistent productivity
2. Absenteeism, lateness and frequent absence from work area
3. Increased errors and lower quality of work
4. Procrastination 5. Withdrawal from co workers 6. Overly sensitive or emotional reactions 7. Decreased interest in work 8. Slowed thoughts 9. Difficulty learning or remembering 10. Slowed movement and actions 11. Frequent comments about being tired The Role of the Organisation
Clever, progressive organisations are those that help their staff to meet the challenge of increased demands, reduced staffing, fear and increased levels of negativity in the economy and the country as a whole before it is too late. Some of the approaches that need to be considered in order to do this include training and development, having good policies and procedures in this area and focusing on employee engagement.
HR Policies and Procedures
Putting in place policies and procedures that ensure the well being of staff is taken seriously by the organisation sends a clear message to the workforce of the support for the individual’s mental wellbeing at work.
A review of current systems and how they work in an environment where more and
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