OCCUPATIONAL DEPRESSION: SYMPTOMS, CAUSES AND TREATMENTS - ARTE - 2024

The labor depression is a feeling of deep sadness, discouragement and continued widespread lack of energy and motivation associated with the job. When the case is serious, you can take leave from work due to depression, and be caused by personal factors (for example going through a bereavement) or by company factors (for example workplace harassment). The feeling of sadness does not disappear with the passage of time and is disproportionate in terms of its intensity and duration.

A significant percentage of the population suffers from depression at some point in their life. It is important to know how to identify the situation through its symptoms, determine what its causes may be and implement an action plan of possible solutions to put an end to a person's depression situation.

Because people dedicate a large part of the day to our job, there are many occasions in which a depression can be linked to some circumstance related to work.

These cases must be specially attended by the heads of each company or organization; since, in addition to affecting the well-being of some of the people who collaborate in it, it may be having an impact on the work they perform and, consequently, on the company.

For these reasons, both in personal and work life it is essential to know how to identify a person or co-worker who may be suffering from workplace depression. To do this, it is important to know your symptoms.

Symptoms of workplace depression

Here are some of the symptoms through which you can identify a workplace depression:

• Feeling of continued sadness.
• Anxiety for no apparent good reason.
• Job demotivation.
• The above feelings do not change regardless of the situation.
• Chronic tiredness, constant exhaustion.
• Considerable weight loss in a short time.
• Getting irritated easily with their peers.
• Low concentration.
• Increase in the usual time in which it performs its functions.
• Increase, without apparent cause, in the mistakes you make at work.
• Regular absences due to illness or illness.

In the case of workplace depression, in addition to oneself, the closest co-workers and those directly responsible for the affected person play a very important role in diagnosing it.

As indicated before, due to the large number of hours that people dedicate to our work, it is in this context where workplace depression will be most reflected in the daily behavior of the person in question.

In these cases, one does not usually find oneself in a mood or with the necessary attention to reflect on his state and be aware of what is happening to him.

For this reason, you should not only pay attention to the symptoms in yourself, but also in your colleagues, since you could be of great help in the diagnosis of one of them.

Once the situation has been identified, the next fundamental step is to determine what may be causing it, in order to be able to solve it and take action on it. Depending on each person, there are multiple reasons that, taken together, or in combination with each other, may be causing a job depression in yourself or in one of your colleagues.

Causes

To facilitate its identification, some of the most common causes of this situation are listed below:

• Important and very stressful event for the person.
• Work project over which the worker cannot or cannot maintain control.
• Impotence over the achievement of its results or the work it does.
• Stressful working conditions.
• Conflicts or problems with colleagues or managers.
• Labor responsibility not proportional to the position held.
• Lack of recognition of the work done.

Once the causes that may be generating you, one of your colleagues, or one of your company's collaborators, a workplace depression have been identified, it is time to consider what the possible solutions are and establish an action plan.

Treatments

There are different techniques, activities or strategies that, carried out properly, can reduce or eliminate the symptoms of occupational depression.

These solutions have to be adapted to each case, and the way to act will depend on whether it is you who suffers from this discomfort, is it one of your colleagues or one of the people who collaborate in your company, team or organization.

However, below is a set of general solutions and actions that may be helpful in cases of workplace depression:

Raise awareness among workers to promote early diagnosis

The awareness and sensitization of workers regarding possible occupational diseases or accidents at work that they may suffer in their working hours is decisive to avoid, reduce and detect possible cases of suffering of this type of health conditions in people.

Both to take care of your own well-being and to detect possible conditions in your colleagues, your team or your staff, you must be well informed as to which are the most common health conditions or accidents in your work sector, which are its causes and associated symptoms, and through what actions a possible solution to the situation can be reached.

In the case of occupational depression, early diagnosis of the situation is essential so that the condition does not become a major problem and it is easier to recover the normal state of health of the affected person.

Speak it naturally

If you have detected that you could be suffering from a case of workplace depression, talk about it and share it with your colleagues when you feel ready for it.

Do not allow a long time to pass since you detect your condition; Since, the sooner you do it, the sooner you will start to enjoy the benefits in this regard. Arm yourself with courage and share it.

The simple fact of verbalizing it and giving a name and a meaning to your situation and your feelings will make you feel better. Sharing it and talking about it reduces the uncertainty that you can create about your reality, encouraging you to overcome it normally.

On the other hand, the fact that your colleagues are aware of how you feel will make them aware of it and want to give you all the help and support that is in their power so that you can recover your well-being as soon as possible.

Treat the case with confidentiality in the company

It is essential to treat cases with timely confidentiality so as not to aggravate the situation.

Although, the fact of verbalizing it and talking about workplace depression naturally can be beneficial for the treatment of it, if the affected person has not made the decision to share it with their colleagues, no one else in the company can take this decision.

The person familiar with the situation can provide support, but never reveal the condition to the rest of the colleagues, even if they consider it to be something beneficial for the worker with occupational depression.

It may happen that, despite acting with the intention of helping him, this is an additional stressor for him and worsens or worsens his situation.

Progressive return to work

If you suffer from occupational depression or one of the people who collaborate in your company suffers it, it is common for a temporary leave to be caused and for the person to return to work when their health and state of mind are in the right conditions again.

When someone suffers from workplace depression, their spirits, motivation, humor and concentration are not in a position to work. Consequently, the results of their work will not be as expected under normal conditions, despite the great effort that may be involved in carrying out their task for the affected person.

During sick leave, the person is given the necessary time to recover from their condition and regain the physical and mental conditions to adequately return to their job.

In the case of occupational depression, it is usually recommended that the person gradually regain the habit and normal working hours. An early or too fast and forced reincorporation can have negative consequences for the health of the person, causing him to relapse again in the condition by which you are caused.

Medical or psychological care health services

When you suspect that you may be suffering from occupational depression, or that your company or organization may be experiencing cases of it or other health conditions, it may be necessary to seek the help of professionals who are experts in the field.

Depending on the intensity or severity of the condition, this solution can be decisive to regain the desired state of health and well-being. In these cases, health professionals will be in charge of making the decision about what is the exact diagnosis of the affected person, what are the causes of the case and what treatment is the most recommended for each situation.

Psychological therapy can be accompanied by the above solutions, if the professional accepts and recommends its use, with the aim of speeding up the path and supporting the therapeutic process to return the affected person to their usual state of mind.

In cases of deeper work depression , or that has been affecting a person for a longer time, medical therapy may be used as an accompaniment to psychological therapy.

Both psychological and medicinal therapy must be provided by professionals who are experts in the field.

In fact, in many companies, due to their size and characteristics, there are departments that are exclusively dedicated to the health care of workers. These departments are responsible for the awareness and prevention of occupational diseases and accidents at work.

In other cases, instead of having its own department, the company can resort to collaborations with different external organizations that are responsible for this same purpose.

And what cases do you know of sick leave due to job depression?