Publications
Partners
US government officials tracked depression within 21 major occupational categories. They combined data from 2004 to 2006 to estimate episodes of depression within the past year. That information came from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which registers lifetime and past-year depression bouts.
Here are some other interesting facts that came out of the report:
- Overall, 7% of full-time workers battled depression in the
past year.
- Women were more likely than men to have had a major bout of
depression, and younger workers had higher rates of depression than
their older colleagues.
- Almost 11% of personal care workers - which include child
care and helping the elderly and severely disabled with their daily
needs - reported depression lasting two weeks or longer. During such episodes there is loss of interest and pleasure, and at least four other symptoms surface, including problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration and self-image.
- Workers who prepare and serve food - cooks, bartenders, waiters and
waitresses - had the second highest rate of depression among full-time
employees at 10.3%.
- In a tie for third were health care workers and social workers at
9.6%.
- The lowest rate of depression, 4.3%, occurred in the job
category that covers engineers, architects and surveyors.
- Women fare worse in the helping professions (community and social services) - 13.3% of them get depressed as opposed to 4.4% of the men in the field.
- Very low on the list were people involved in maintenance, repair and installation. Their rate of depresssion was only 4.4%.
- If stress isn't your thing, stay away from the medical professions (9.6%) and from the field of education and training (8.7%).
- Farmers, fishermen and forestry workers registered a very low level of depression - a mere 5.6%.
Depression leads to $30 billion to $44 billion ($21 billion to $31 billion) in lost productivity annually, said the report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The report was available Saturday on the agency's Web site.
Just working full-time would appear to be beneficial in preventing depression. The overall rate of depression for full-time workers (7%) compares with the 12.7% rate registered by those who are unemployed. – (Sapa-AP/Health24)
Read more:
Work pressure sparks blues
Depression Centre
