als with mental health problems. As pointed out, employee mental health problems and their impact on an enterprise's productivity and disability costs are a critical human resource issue. Increasingly, employers, employers' organisations and international organisational bodies are recognising that the economic and social costs of mental health problems in the workplace cannot be ignored.
The purpose of the research
With a grant from the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, the ILO conducted in-depth situation analyses in five countries. The five countries selected were Finland, Germany, Poland, UK, and USA. The primary purpose of these situation analyses was to conduct an in-depth assessment of the impact of mental health problems in the workplace in order to determine the scope of the problem in competitive employment. Related to this purpose was also the assessment of the specific ramifications of the impact of mental health problem for employees and enterprises such as workplace productivity, loss of income, health-care and social security costs, access to mental health services and good practices by employers.
An essential objective of these situation analyses is that the information collected and assessed may be used to create further educational materials and assist in designing programmes which can be used by governmental agencies, unions, and employers' organisations for mental health promotion, prevention, and rehabilitation.
The situation analyses were based primarily on a thorough literature review, including documents from government agencies, NGOs, employer and employee organisations, as well as interviews with key informants.
The case of the United States
Clinical depression is one of the most common illnesses affecting working adults. In the United States, major depression is a leading cause of disability. Yearly, in the US, approximately one in ten adults experiences a depressive disorder. Depression is a workplace health issue that significantly impacts the bottom line. Depression-related illnesses predominate in prevalence and cost over other traditional occupational health issues, such as substance disorders. It is estimated that depression costs the nation between $30 and $44 billion, with approximately $200 million lost work days each year. Employers assume much of this financial burden both in direct treatment costs and through absenteeism, reduced productivity, and more frequent work-related accidents.
The following situational analysis examines the scope and impact of depression in the US workplace as well as the role of all social partners in addressing this issue. It was not the purpose of this situational analysis to provide an exhaustive description and assessment of every agency, organization, or institution involved in the above activities. Selected key agencies, groups, and institutions were highlighted with illustrations of how important it is for all the social partners to work together in order to be more effective. Although, the situational analysis is primarily concerned with the depressive disorders, these are often viewed within the context of overall mental health issues. This is due, in part, to the nature of the information which does not always distinguish between depression and overall mental health problems.
The situational analysis examines three major areas: Mental health at the national level; The role of government and the social partners; and
The situational analysis examines three major areas: Mental health at the national level; The role of government and the social partners; and Managing mental health in the workplace.
MENTAL HEALTH AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL examines the evolution of the disabilities rights movement; workplace myths and misunderstandings concerning mental illness; unemployment and disability; policy and legislative framework, and the economic burden of depression for the nation and the employer.
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AND SOCIAL PARTNERS examines the implementation of law and policy by government agencies; the role of workers', employers' and non-governmental organizations, and selected noted academic institutions in the area of employment and psychiatric disabilities.
MANAGING MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE addresses work-family issues and their impact on productivity; and employee education regarding mental health promotion and mental illness prevention; and it provides illustrations of corporate experiences and innovations.
