Working During Depression Benefits Employees Health

If you were of the opinion that a day off from work can help overcome depression, then you are wrong. A new study has found that those suffering from depressive illness benefit more from going to work than skipping it in hope of feeling better.

This is the first study of its kind and was conducted by the University Of Melbourne and the Menzies Research Institute at the University of Tasmania. The study looked at the long term costs and health outcomes of those who are suffering from depression and skipping work, compared to those who continue to work despite their depressive illness. The study looked at employees in Australia and found that working among other employees benefits while suffering from depression.

Lead researcher, Dr. Fiona Cocker from the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health said, "A greater understanding of the costs and consequences of both absenteeism and presenteeism would allow for more informed recommendations to be made to the benefit of employees and their employers."

The study is essential in understanding the work environment and its impact on the employees. She said that the study found that the continuation of work while experiencing a depressive illness is beneficial for the employee's health. She further stated that absenting oneself from work during such a phase did benefit the employee at all, neither in terms of a better health condition nor in his quality of life.

"Cost associated with depression-related absence and attending work while depressed were also found to be higher for white collar workers who also reported poorer quality of life than blue collar workers," added Cocker. The costs that she mentions is calculated on the basis of lost productivity, increased expenditure for medication and treatment and the ultimate cause is replacing the unwell employee who is not present at work with a healthy one.

The study holds great importance employers, health care professionals (e.g. GPs) and employees who are unsure about going to work or staying back due to sickness. It could also lead towards the development of "mental health promotions strategies" at work places. Cocker stated that the strategies should include mental health policies that would look towards the employees' happiness and contentment by providing a flexible work-time or a better working environment. This would promote better quality and investment in terms of time and attendance. The maintenance of a daily routine and co-worker support would further help not just the mental health but an impact to their physical health as well.

Most of the time, diabetes and heart diseases affect the employees' work attendance and these health policies if adopted can benefit them as well, the study stated.