Depression In The Workplace

Depression

Depression is rarely visible to a single cause. Often, it is produced by the interaction of a person’s biological tendency, psychological propensity towards pessimism, feelings of low self-esteem and trauma, or long-term stress (Turner, S., 1995). Normally, the disease first appears when an individual is 20-30 years of age. Some subjects experience a single episode, while others may have frequent bouts of depression (Ramsey, R., 1995). All depression possibly has in communal the brain’s misregulation of normal stress. Genetics generate a tendency for some depressive ills, and life-events can cause all of them. People who have low self-esteem, who are too pessimistic, or who, say experts, are easily stressed out, are mostly vulnerable

Furthermore, more women are in the workplace than ever before (Turner, S., 1995). Not surprisingly, the same cohort of the population, 30-44 years old, which has the maximum average labor-force involvement rates also, has the highest incidence of depression for both men and women. This is a new style; not working, because of retirement or unemployment, used to be the most obvious link of depression. Now it is caused mainly by the stress employees are experiencing in the workplace. Dr. Hans Selye, a famous stress researcher living in Canada, outlines stress as the “non-specific reaction of the body to any right made upon it” (Capozzoli, T., 1994). As a fresh century summons, organizations and their members are being required to swim with a violent tide of change. For organizations to survive and grow in the coming years, it is important that managers respond to the various forces which impact on their organizations. These forces include handling with organizational transformation, management downsizing, redeployment, devolution of responsibility, aggression, conflict and harassment and technological modifications (Ramsey, R., 1995). Not surprisingly, Americans feel trapped in

Moreover to the physical stress of working longer hours, there are also environmental reasons of pressure. These include extreme noise, a non-supportive administration, unfair rating procedures, failure to receive acknowledgement and unsafe working conditions. Also there are psychological causes of pressure in the workplace, such as encounters between employees, communication difficulties, lost sense of purpose, feelings of being overawed and fatigue. Remarks or behaviors which deny employees’ contributions, degrade them personally, or interfere with their ability to function as individuals may start the cycle of despair or violence (Gerson, A., 1993). Additional sources of job-related stress include uncertain job expectations and descriptions; short closing date and consistent “fire drills”; responsibility but no decision-making authority; routine, dull jobs with no room for creativity; and last but not least, the “isms” – racism, sexism, and ageism (Evans, T., 1990). Also, the development of multinational organizations, telecommuting, virtual meetings and such things as email are depersonalizing the workplace. Lastly, there are the sources of stress outside work such as your partner, your children, your life changes, ageing and impractical expectations of yourself