BACKGROUND
âOur journey in life is not the same, so do not be too hard on yourself, try to always take things easy. Should you feel that your mental health is on the verge of deteriorating, do the things that will bring you happiness and peace. Do not stress yourself with all the office work or tasks; those can wait. It is not the end of the world. Find yourself good friends and share your problems with them, or get professional help. Look for a reliable support systemâ.
This is a piece of advice from someone who cares. The advice seems easy for most of us to articulate to a listener, but the struggle borne by the depressed individual is beyond our imagination. Only those who are suffering or had suffered from mental health issues know how bad the condition can be. Tragic incidences due to depression is not uncommon. We have heard and witnessed about the tragic suicide of patients suffering from depression. In most major depression cases as reported by mainstream newspapers and the social media, many of the depressed people usually take a shortcut to eliminate their problem â by self-stabbing, slitting own throat or wrist, jumping from a high building, or plunging into the river and drowning.
Depression can be caused by many factors, one of which is work-related stress. This predicament, if left unattended, would also affect workplace productivity and lead to more employeesâ becoming badly affected, hence, depression. The issue of depression is a serious matter, and it cannot be treated as an intermittent problem that arises within the organisation, neither can it be treated as a personal issue of the respective employee working within the organisation (Mallow, 2018). Today, depression is a global issue which needs to be addressed by everyone of the society, including employers and employees collectively. The suicidal phenomenon due to depression serves as an alarm to all including the country, hence, it should be taken seriously. Due attention and immediate action should be initiated by both the government and employers as a measure to minimise these undesirable tragedies from happening among the staff.
A study in the United States reported that about 9.5% of the adult population suffers from depression, and, because of this, 200 million workdays are lost each year (Jacobs, 2015). In a more detailed observation, nearly one in four workers is diagnosed with depression in their lifetime while five have taken leave from work. What is more worrying is that, more than 1â10 of the adults who have been in a 1-year service of work have missed workdays as a result of suffering from anxiety (14%) and depression (16%) (Jacobs, 2015; September 2015). On an annual basis, the US industry suffers from a deficit of USD43.7 billion due to depression (Paul, 2003; Sumner, 1998).
Depression is a mental illness and mental health is the individualâs most significant asset that warrants happiness and well-being, particularly at the workplace. The success of an organisation depends on the integrity and the good relationship of its employees with the organisation concerned. Thus, the well-being of both parties is essential for ensuring a productive and conducive working environment at the workplace. A concerted effort by all departments to sustain the well-being of an organisation is necessary. From the legal perspective, a robust policy on well-being, which is equally accommodated with explicit legal and ethical provisions, should be implemented. This helps to guarantee that the rights and protection of all parties are not only served but also seen to be served. Thus, it is mandatory for an organisation to have practical guidelines or an ethics policy, in whatever label it should be, to govern the employersâ and employeesâ well-being at the workplace.
Depression is sadly, a killer illness which has always been perceived to be a personal emotional problem that should be treated personally. Taking the cue from this misleading perception, awareness towards combating depression has also been less well received, with little rigorous efforts and attention being given to it by the government as well as society. Aiming to bring the mental health topic into discussion, this chapter discusses the prevalence of employeeâs depression. First, it focusses on the challenges that affect the employeesâ well-being at the workplace. Second, it emphasises on the role of the employers in combating the symptoms of depression and in maintaining the mental health of their employees. Third, this chapter suggests various ways that can be adopted by employers to mitigate the risk of depression among employees and to support those who are suffering from this illness. Fourth, this chapter looks at the condition of the mental illness in the context of Malaysia. Some examples taken from various companies in maintaining their employeesâ mental illness are shared, for benchmarking purposes. It is hoped that the disclosure can create awareness among the employers and employees and to enable them to notice the importance of having effective methods to boost employeesâ well-being at the workplace. Finally, the outcome derived can be used as a guidance by employees so that their knowledge about the available protection and preventive measures can be further enhanced.
Depression â A Silent Killer: It is Easier to Say, âMy Tooth is Achingâ than to Say, âMy Heart is Brokenâ
Depression is a silent killer. It is a syndrome that is concealed within the person, and sometimes, its existence is never predictable. As members of the society, we are often shocked to hear that people with a happy and good social lifespan had suddenly ended their life by committing suicide. It is only upon their demise that all the stories behind their tragic death will be revealed. The shocking suicidal death of celebrities, such as designer Kate Spade, chef Anthony Bourdain, and, the famous comedian actor, Robin Williams, tell us that life is very vulnerable, especially among those who are more sensitive and suffering from depression. It is our duty to show more care about such people, particularly those living within our space and those whom we know. These suicidal tragedies serve as an insight for many of us to realise that people who are suffering from depression are fighting their painful feelings alone. Hence, as a friend, a family member, a relative, a colleague, or employer, it is our social responsibility to make sure that those around us are empowered to experience happiness and well-being. Indeed, our small concerns, can save their lives.
Undoubtedly, severe depression is a mental illness that always leads to suicidal thoughts. This illness may attack anyone regardless of the background and condition. In some cases, those who have suffered depression do not realise it, therefore, it is left untreated (Andrews & Henderson, 2000). Even those patients who may have the awareness, and are searching the road for recovery, may also find it difficult to get a support system from the people around them. This is because depression is a stigma; this kind of illness is often perceived as an unnecessary weakness of the individual. All of these perceptions came about because there is a lack of exposure to how dangerous depression is and what its consequences are.
Among the reasons causing the ignorance of this psychiatric illness is the dearth of literacy relating to mental health among the public, especially symptoms of depression and the best treatment option (Jorm et al., 2000, 1997; Swami, Loo, & Furnham, 2010). More often than not, people tend to treat depression as a shameful issue, and those suffering from depression are viewed as weak, insane, or having brain damage. Apart from these common stigmas, another belief views the prevalence of depression as a phenomenon caused by religious or supernatural factors as well as social factors too (Castro & Eroza, 1998; Csordas & Lewton, 1998). Depression, to some people, is supernaturally provoked, hence, it can only be traditionally treated by witch-doctors and indigenous healers (e.g. Banerjee & Roy, 1998). This shows the societyâs lack of understanding about depression which can lead to more serious consequences. Such negative perceptions of depression are obstructions, hindering the patient from seeking proper treatment as well as the appropriate moral support, thereby complicating the road to recovery.
Predicted to be the second leading cause of disability throughout the world by the year 2020 (Mukhtar & Oei, 2011a, 2011b; WHO, 2015), depression is also anticipated to be on the highest level of mental disorders in high-income countries by the year 2030. Based on this, it is essential to create awareness and to educate people about the symptoms and risks of depression. Depression is an illness which not only must be seriously treated but also to be continuously monitored. It has been proven that people who received proper treatment can fully recover from depression, and also gain back their regular life routine (Paul, 2003).
Understanding Depression â It is Not a Weakness; It is an Illness!
The term âdepressionâ has always been misinterpreted to be a mental disorder. However, it is a widely used word with many meanings, and it is not restricted to just the disorder of the mind (Bullmore, 2019). Historically, the characteristic of this illness can be traced back to the ancient Greek physicians, where it was known as:
[âŚ]melancholia indicating a syndrome of sadness or low mood, low energy, reduced capacity for pleasure (or anhedonia), decreased appetite for sex and food, pessimistic anticipation of the future, a guilty rumination on the past, and a strongly self-critical bias in thinking that can lead to self-harming or suicidal behaviour. Initially, depression is a âwhole-body illness that is distinguished by its severity, intensity, and length of time its last (Johnson & Indvik, 1997).
A more technical description of depression is:
[âŚ] a debilitating condition with considerable emotional, physical, and socioeconomic consequences (e.g. Andrews & Henderson, 2000).
Another definition indicates depression as, a form of mental illness characterised by symptoms, such as negative emotions (e.g. sadness, loss of pleasure, or low feelings of self-worth), poor physical functioning (such as fatigue and lack of appetite), and reduced cognitive abilities (such as difficulties with concentration and memory) (Hessels, Rietveld, Thurik, & Van der Zwan, 2018)....
