Workplace tools: Depression Calculator
The cost of depression in the workplace can be steep: lower productivity, higher absenteeism and higher medical costs. Some studies put the national price tag for untreated depression in the workplace as high as $80 billion a year.
How much does employee depression cost your organization? The Depression Calculator is a tool that provides employers with a financial snapshot of workplace costs associated with untreated depression and the potential savings that would accrue by helping employees suffering from depression to obtain treatment. Results are tailored to organizations based on size, industry type, location and age/sex breakdown of the work force.
The tool was compiled by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)in 2004 and was reissued again earlier this year to reflect new economic data. It uses a Productivity Impact Model, a research-based management tool, to predict the number of days of absenteeism and associated costs, as well as to project the net savings from treatment.
The calculator is broken into four sections. Participants first enter basic demographics about their type of business and various characteristics of their work force, such as size and composition based on age and sex.
The second section charts the expected prevalence of depression based on these responses and estimates the lost time and medical costs that untreated depression are likely to incur. The third section estimates the likely reduction in absenteeism and medical costs if employees get treatment and the fourth section estimates the incremental benefits over a three year period.
In addition, the Depression Calculator site includes a good list of resources about depression for employers and for individuals who might be suffering from depression.
Comments
Hi
There are many aspects to the problem.
The most difficult one is what do you say to the worker?
I am sure that the best approach is to suggest that he may have a tendency to be depressed. It is a pity to enjoy life less than need be.
It is also easier to point him to a one-stop Online solution.
I have been working with Depression for 38 years.
There are two aspects about treating depression. How do we cure it? How do we prevent it?
They are not the same. No matter how we may cure depression this will not prevent depression.
Why is it so important to prevent depression?
Depression reoccurs. People who have the tendency to be depressed suffer from a permanent poor quality of life.
I no longer believe that Medications to be a panacea. They may cure depression. They do not increase quality of life.
But this begs a very serious question. When is someone depressed and not merely very sad? When do we cure? When do we prevent?
As a rule of thumb we can use functioning. If sadness is such that there is an objective limitation of functioning then we should address the problem as ’curing depression’.
If a person is sad but is not suffering a limitation in functioning then we should address the problem as ‘preventing depression’.
VNS, ECT, and Medications cure depression. They do not really prevent it.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, CBT, prevents it.
It really is as simple as that.
If you want a fuller insight into how CBT works, or how CBT can be offered online please refer to my free Online site http://www.myRay.com
If you wish to understand more about: Thoughts, feelings, emotions, moods, depression, what it means, what re your choices and how to choose please refer to my free online site http://www.MyDoctorExplains.com
Both sites, http://myRay.com and http://MyDoctorExplains.com are non commercial and free.
Use them as often and as long as you so wish.
With kindest regards.
Dr. Michael Benjamin
Posted by: Dr. Michael Benjamin | June 22, 2007 3:31 AM