Employer

Clinical depression has become one of America's most costly illnesses. Left untreated, depression is as costly as heart disease or AIDS to the US economy, costing over $51 billion in absenteeism from work and lost productivity and $26 billion in direct treatment costsi. Depression tends to affect people in their prime working years and may last a lifetime if untreated. More than 80 percent of people with clinical depression can be successfully treated. With early recognition, intervention, and support, most employees can overcome clinical depression and pick up where they left off. Provide your employees with the added benefit of telepsychiaty through e-Psychiatry today!

 

Know the Facts!

• Depression ranks among the top three workplace problems for employee assistance professionals, following only family crisis and stress
   
• 3% of total short term disability days are due to depressive disorders and in 76% of those cases, the employee was female
   
• In a study of First Chicago Corporations, depressive disorders accounted for more than half of all medical plan dollars paid for mental health problems. The amount for treatment of these claims was close to the amount spent on treatment for heart disease
   
• The annual economic cost of depression in 1995 was $600 per depressed worker. Nearly one-third of these costs are for treatment and 72% are costs related to absenteeism and lost productivity at work
   
• Almost 15% of those suffering from severe depression will die by suicide

Employees' Attitudes Towards Depression

• Often times a depressed employee will not seek treatment because they fear the affect it will have on their job and they are concerned about confidentiality.
   
• They believe it's not important enough to miss work over.
   
• Many employees are also unaware they have depression or they fear their insurance is inadequate to cover costs.
   
• Most employers will refer a depressed employee for help if they are aware of the symptoms. 64% of NMHA Survey respondents said they would refer an employee to an mental health professional

Learn to recognize the symptoms of clinical depression

No two people experience clinical depression in the same manner. Symptoms will vary in severity and duration among different people.
 

• Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood.
   
• Sleeping too little, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much.
   
• Reduced appetite and/or weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain.
   
• Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex.
   
• Restlessness, irritability.
   
• Persistent physical symptoms that don't respond to treatment (such as headaches, chronic pain or digestive disorders).
   
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
   
• Fatigue or loss of energy.
   
• Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless.
   
• Thoughts of suicide or death.

Help Is Available

e-Psychiatry offers employers telepsychiatry plans for their employees to complement health benefits provided by businesses and organizations. Telepsychiatry reduces the need for physician/psychiatrist office visits and e-Psychiatry provides those services which translate into significant savings in employer healthcare expenses. Also they can visit with our psychiatrists or therapist on their own time without having to miss work. Show your employees you care about their mental health and offer them the best in psychiatric care!

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