Work Depression: How to Take Care of Your Mental Health on the Job

It is estimated that approximately 17 million adults in the United States suffer from depression each year.

According to the findings of the survey on the state of mental health in the United States in 2021, the number of persons seeking care for depression rose dramatically between 2019 and 2020.

More people than ever before participated in the survey's depression screening, with eight out of ten showing moderate to severe depression symptoms.

It's no wonder that many full-time workers suffer from depression while on the job, given that they spend an average of 8.5 hours per day working (including commute time) on weekdays and 5.5 hours (including commute time) on weekends and holidays (Bureau of Labour Statistics).

obtain out why your job could be making you depressed, the warning signals to look out for, where to obtain assistance, and what you can do to start feeling better.

What is work depression?

Although working conditions probably don't bring on depression by itself, they can make existing symptoms worse.

"Any workplace or job can be a potential cause or contributing factor for depression depending on the level of stress and available support at the workplace," said Rashmi Parmar, MD, a psychiatrist at Community Psychiatry.

What are the signs of work depression?

Workplace depression manifests itself in ways that are consistent with those of major depression. However, others may seem more tailored to an office environment.

According to Parmar, your level of functioning at work and at home would suffer as a result of your depression.

Workplace depression often manifests itself in these ways.

heightened nervousness, particularly while confronting difficult situations or dwelling on work while not on the clock.

a general sense of disinterest and apathy in one's work

depression is characterised by low energy and lack of enthusiasm to perform activities, which might show itself as boredom in duties.

disinterest in professional responsibilities, particularly those you used to enjoy

Why you might be depressed at work

There could be a number of factors contributing to your increased depression symptoms at the office. While no two persons or situations are identical, there are some recurring features that can be seen while attempting to identify the origins of workplace depression.

This is by no means an all-inclusive list, but it does include some potential triggers for workplace depression:

feeling helpless in the face of work problems

Workplace stressors include: worrying about losing your job, being overworked or underpaid, being the victim of harassment or discrimination at work, and having to work unpredictable hours.

Does working remotely make you more likely to be depressed?

She explained that the lack of a routine might lead to feelings of depression.

Parmar claims that people who work from home often feel lonely and alone since they miss out on the office's social milieu.

She explained that our reliance on electronic means of communication like instant messaging, voice conversations, and video conferences was a contributing factor to the growing problem of screen addiction.

What can you do if you feel depressed while working?

Managing symptoms while at work is difficult in any setting. The bright side is that you can take action to alleviate your depression:

Get up from your desk and walk about the office for 10 minutes.

Go outside and enjoy your lunch break.

Get some exercise, even if it's only a quick walk around the office, during your break.

Spend the day relaxing and taking care of your mind.

Try meditating mindfully for a few minutes.

Make time every day for some deep breathing exercises.

If you can reduce your daily stress by saying "no" to just one simple thing, do it.

Enjoy a humorous video.

What are common risk factors for depression at work?

Magavi identifies the following as potential triggers for clinical depression in the workplace:

bosses that are unappreciative of their employees' efforts

Politics, gossip, and bullying in the workplace

high expectations for performance on the job

Having little room for error and little social support at work.