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* the development and dissemination of a multifaceted human resources conceptual framework for managing depression in the workplace, and

* the broad dissemination of this approach nationwide through special meetings and conferences, on-site consultation, media activities, development of training materials, development and dissemination of informational materials; and participation in national corporate health, disability, and public policy activities.

Significant differences can be documented in the perception and management of depression in the workplace in the 12 years in which the National Worksite Program has functioned. In the 1980s, major employers generally did not fully recognize the impact of depression on costs and performance, were not aware of depression as a treatable illness, and saw cutting benefits as the solution to mental health problems and rising costs. By the 1990s, at least for larger employers, a substantial change had occurred in the understanding of depression and in the extent to which employers provide comprehensive services through benefit programs and health and human resource services.

The National Worksite Program has played a key role by serving as a leader and catalyst in the process for change. Noted achievements are:

* expanding understanding and awareness by bringing messages about the direct and indirect costs of depression to corporate America, health plans, the media, organizations, and employees;

* using effective education, consultation, and training to reach key decision makers in major corporations, business, and related organizations;

* conceptualizing, developing, and disseminating innovative approaches to improving the management of depression;

* providing science-based information about depression in the workplace to business and trade print and broadcast media at both national and local levels;

* collaborating with national organizations to expand the National Worksite Program's reach; and

* developing a corps of corporate senior executives as consultants, advisors, spokespersons, and opinion leaders.

The department of health and human services (DHHS) white house conference on mental health

DHHS, through the National Institute of Mental Health, has launched a landmark five-year study of mental health in the United States which began on July 1, 1999. The new study, announced at the first White House Conference on Mental Health on June 7,1999, will make fundamental contributions to understanding mental illness and to allocating resources for diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating people with mental disorders, including all depressive disorders.¹⁷ The study will address issues of critical importance to public health, providing information on the duration of various mental disorders, the kinds of disability they produce, the links between socioeconomic status and mental health, and the relationship between types of mental illness and use of services. This information is a vital tool for planning and assessing public and private mental health services, as well as increasing the awareness and knowledge base of the public regarding mental illness. Specifically, this information will benefit