How to Help Employees Deal with Depression at Work

Understanding workplace depression

As depression becomes increasingly recognised in workplaces worldwide, it’s essential to understand how to support employees dealing with this condition. In this article, we will explore how depression can impact work performance, the importance of addressing it and actionable steps to help employees manage depression at work. 

Whether it’s working with depression, dealing with depression affecting work, or addressing work-related depression, our shared goal is to create a supportive environment where employees can thrive, manage their mental health, and prevent the onset of depression.

Workplace depression goes beyond occasional bouts of unhappiness and it’s important to not use ‘depression’ to describe this. Depression is persistent, long-lasting and affects not only mood but also energy levels, physical wellbeing and the ability to function. Research suggests a connection between depression and the central nervous system, some studies imply that individuals dealing with depression may experience changes to the CNS, which can lead to dysregulated stress responses and chemical imbalances that impact the ability to think clearly and manage emotions. Left untreated, depression can lead to chronic health issues, affecting both physical and mental wellbeing.

Depression can stem from various factors, including personal life stressors, but work-related issues can also cause depression. For instance, an excessive workload, poor leadership and a lack of support can all contribute to work-related depression. It is common for some people to feel depressed only when at work. Understanding the causes of depression in the workplace is the first step towards helping employees cope, and minimising the impact of that depression has on their personal and professional lives. 

The impact of depression on work performance

Depression affecting work can manifest in different ways, impacting both the employee and the organisation. Common signs that depression is impacting work performance include: 

• Difficulty concentrating:  Employees may struggle to focus, or make frequent mistakes in their work. This can lead to a decline in overall productivity or quality of their work. 
• Missed deadlines: Low motivation and impaired decision-making can cause employees with depression to miss deadlines, impacting team performance.
• Absenteeism: Depression can cause frequent illness, or the need for additional mental health days, creating additional pressure on team members. 
• High turnover rates: This could indicate to employers that something is seriously wrong internally, causing severe employee distress and potentially leading to depression. Implementing strategies to reduce employee turnover can enable organisations to create a more supportive work environment, which will help employees with depression stay in work whilst effectively managing their mental health.

In more severe causes of employee depression, you may see:

• Social withdrawal: employees isolating themselves or avoiding interacting and collaborating with colleagues. Social withdrawal can hinder team working or create disconnection in the workplace.
• Burnout: complete exhaustion caused by chronic stress or depression. Burnt out employees can no longer function effectively at work and are unlikely to recover without significant time off.

Supporting employees with depression

Create a supportive workplace environment

Creating a supportive workplace environment is one of the first steps to helping employees who are working with depression. Creating psychological safety in the workplace, where employees feel safe to express their feelings and seek help without fear of judgement or repercussions, is a key role of leaders . Training programs for leaders, such as creating psychological safety at work, can equip managers with the tools they need to support their teams effectively.

Mental health training

Employers should also provide access to mental health resources for all. Offering confidential counselling services, mental health days, and stress management training can make a significant difference. Managing workplace stress is one of the Dharma training programmes that helps employees develop coping strategies for managing stress and workplace depression.

Building resilience in employees

Building resilience equips employees with skills to handle stress and recover from rejection or setbacks, which may reduce the risk of workplace depression. Employers can support resilience by offering training programmes such as building resilience in the workplace. These programmes train employees to strengthen their mental and emotional resilience, making them more capable of handling the challenges of work and life.

Addressing workplace depression requires a comprehensive approach

Understanding that depression is more than fleeting unhappiness allows us to better support those impacted. By creating a supportive work environment, building psychological safety, and providing mental health resources, employers can help employees manage their mental health more effectively. 

Implementing training programmes focused on stress management and resilience can also empower employees to navigate workplace challenges with greater ease. 

Reducing the impact of depression on work performance and preventing its onset creates a happier,  healthier and more productive workplace.