On the Job by Anita Bruzzese When Youve Fallen and Cant Get Up

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese When You've Fallen and Can't Get Up I've been impressed by the number of blog posts I've read lately that urge people not to give in to despair in these despairing times, to remember that most of us have all that we really need: our friends, our family, our health.At the same time, I know that despite these pep talks there are people who, no matter how much they try, aren't feeling better. Despite the extra time spent recently with people who love them and care about them, they have fallen and can't get up.The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15-44, affecting about 15 million American adults annually, or about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older. While depression can develop at any age, the median age at onset is about 32, and is more more prevalent in women than in men.Those are the facts. But what lies behind those facts is much tougher. Anyone who has suffered from depression or had someone they care about struggle w ith the disease knows that the toll it takes cannot be summed up in simple statistics. It can tear apart relationships, and it can harm careers.Despite more people willing to talk about how the disease has affected them at work, there are people who try and hide how they're feeling, how they are having difficulty coping not only with daily life, but with the rising tide of bad news in the workplace.I'm not a mental health expert, but I do know that in order to survive in today's difficult business climate, you need to be on top of your game. Both physically and emotionally. Sure, you need to go the extra mile at work in order to try and hang on to your job, but that's not going to happen if you're not able to cope with life on a daily basis.When I first started writing my column for Gannett News Service about 15 years ago, I wrote on depression in the workplace. I was flooded with mail from people who were so grateful that I had written about a subject they felt had been hidden too long. While it is being talked about more today because it does affect productivity, I still think a lot of people want to believe that depression doesn't happen to them, and they can handle whatever is happening on their own.As I said, if all the pep talks in the world aren't making you feel better, consider talking to your doctor, or check out this online quiz that might help you understand if you are suffering from depression.I hope this holiday time has been restorative for your body and mind. I hope that you feel a renewed sense of hope, an ability to cope with whatever life hands you every day. But if not, my hope is that you'll understand you're not alone, and that help is available. Give yourself the greatest gift of all and make your health a priority for 2009.How do you think the workplace could better help those with depression?Social BookmarkingLijit Search