1. Depression in the workplace
Dr Olivia Stubbersfield
Psychiatry Registrar

2. What we will cover: What is Depression and why does it matter?
Mental Health in New Zealand
Depression in the workplace
Research study
Literature review
Survey
What can we do

3. The bleakness of the landscape is unimaginable
The bleakness of the landscape is unimaginable. It is as friendless and alien as a Dali painting. A week is a long time in a Dali landscape.

4. Depression in aotearoa
Depression is a common and pervasive mood disorder that causes persistent low or depressed mood that affects ones cognition, behaviour, sleep, appetite, energy and impairs one’s social and/or occupational functioning.
350 million people worldwide have experienced depression
In NZ :
1 in 6 experience a mental health episode in their lifetime
1 in 8 people have experienced psychological distress in the past four weeks
3rd leading cause of mortality and morbidity in NZ
Māori, Pacific and socio-economically deprived areas are over-represented

5. Why do we care?
Every 15 hours in New Zealand a person will commit suicide

6. Suicide in AOTEAROA 668 suicides in last 12 months
Female suicide rates increased but ratio still disproportionate at 1: 2.5
At risk age groups:15-24 years and years
Highest rate in Māori males
1 in 7 deaths
Female to males 475: 193

7. SUICIDE - occupational context
41 % of people were in stable employments
Awareness of methods in relation to resources available in workplace
CCDHB 5th highest in NZ
- 40 in 12 months

8. What do we do with our day?
Depression is a common and pervasive mood disorder that causes persistent low or depressed mood that affects ones cognition, behaviour, sleep, appetite, energy and impairs social and/or occupational functioning.

9. Depression
Workplace

10. Occupational Consequences of untreated depression
Depression in the workplace
Loss of employment
Absenteesim
Presenteesim
Work unaffected

11. Depression in the workplace research
Literature review
Depression in the workplace
Screening
Health promotion and prevention
Survey of NZ OHP
Depression
Barriers

12. Awareness Identification Appraisal Barriers
These were the four main concepts that emerged from the literature. Awareness of depression in the workplace, Identifying who is or at risk of being affected, efficacy of the methods of identification and the barriers in place that make this processes difficult. We used this as a foundation for our survey- Under these domains we chose to ask the following questions to our NZ Occupational health professionals.
Awareness: To what extent do you believe depression is a problem in the workplace?
Identification: How often do you screen for depression in the workplace? AND Which depression-related screening tools do you use?
Appraisal: Do you believe screening for depression in the workplace is effective?
Barriers: What barriers do you believe are involved when screening for depression?
I would like you to take a moment to think about these domains with regard to how you personally feel about depression and its impact within the workplace.whether that is part of your job description or not although I argue we all have a hand in being responsible.

13. Awareness

14. Identification: Screening tools
Patient Health Questionnaire- PHQ-9
Becks Depression Inventory – BDI
*Impairment in social or occupational functioning

15. Identification: Screening tools

16. Appraisal
Despite >70% reporting depression is a moderate to large problem in the workplace

17. #1 Stigma and Discrimination
Barriers
Employee
Provider
Other
Employer
Unsupportive environment
Funding
Stigma
Confidentiality
Discrimination
Fear of job security
Denial
New Zealand's attitude
to mental health
Treatment
Ineffective screening tools
Source of depression
Suboptimal training
in mental health
Time constraints
#1 Stigma and Discrimination

18. CORRECT IDENTIFICATION OF AT RISK POPULATION
a maths problem:
Validated Tool +
Implementation = +
AWARENESS
SCREENING =
CORRECT IDENTIFICATION OF AT RISK POPULATION

19. workplace mental health initiatives

20. What can you do ? Aware Identify Appraise
Be Aware! Mental Health is Everywhere!
Don’t be afraid to ask
Identify
Choose a screening tool
Use it!
Explore others as a second opinion
Appraise
Keep track of who you screen and why
Follow up patients where possible

21. Your own wellbeing comes first
Balanced diet
Exercise
Mindfulness
Sleep hygiene
Wellness toolbox
Medications
Counseling

23. Thank you