As stated, evidence indicates that depressive disorders are among the most common forms of mental illness in the U.S. population and consequently have a substantial impact on all sectors of the U.S. economy.
* Depression ranks among the top three workplace problems for employee assistance professionals, following family crisis and stress.
* The leading mental health (medical) and disability cost is related to depressive disorders.
* 3% of total short-term disability days are due to depressive disorders, and 76% of those case are female employees.
* The annual economic cost of depression in 1995 was $600 per depressed worker. Nearly one third of these costs were for treatment and 72% were costs related to absenteeism and lost productivity at work.
* Almost 15% of those suffering from severe depression will commit suicide.
HIGH COST OF DEPRESSION
Employers assume much of the financial burden associated with depression, both in direct treatment costs and through absenteeism, reduced productivity, more frequent safety risks, and the cost of inadequate or inappropriate treatment for depression related symptoms.71 In 1990, employers spent an estimated $3,000 on each worker with depression. Research shows that for employers most of the cost associated with depression is due to absenteeism and loss of productivity, rather than treatment.72
Estimates for national spending on depression range from $30 to $44 billion, with an estimated 200 million days lost from work each year.73 Direct treatment costs accounted for $12.4 billion, $23.8 billion was borne by employers in the form of absenteeism and reduced productivity (an estimated $12 billion for absenteeism alone), and $7.5 billion was the cost associated with suicide mortality.74 (See Figure 9)75
Figure 9. Depression Costs Almost $44 Billion Each Year
