New studies show that on average, people with major depression lose eight hours
of productivity per week, but only about one in five Americans with this type
of depression are receiving effective treatment, USA Today reports.For a Limited Time receive a
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Download NowThe studies appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The
newspaper notes that one study found that people with depression are unable
to work or do normal activities for five weeks in a year, a figure that surprised
the researchers.
Depression costs U.S. employers about $31 billion per year in lost productivity,
one researcher tells the newspaper.
The stigma still associated with depression and the lack of access to quality
mental health care can be obstacles to treatment, the newspaper notes. Thomas
Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, says medical coverage
of mental illnesses should be comparable with coverage of physical illnesses.
Ronald Kessler of the Harvard Medical School found in a study he led that half of those with
depression were treated by general practitioners, who, according to research, often don't have the expertise to treat depression effectively.
Experts tell the newspaper that depression is a public health problem hurting
more than productivity. Nearly 30,000 Americans committed suicide last year,
according to Insel.
"Depression is not a small public health problem ... and only 21 percent
are getting adequate care?" says Insel. "I don't think that's acceptable.
We wouldn't accept it for diabetes or hypertension, and we shouldn't accept
it for depression."
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