Prof Ian Hickie
Depression now affects over 800,000 Australians every year.

Prof Ian Hickie
One in five people are likely to have depression or anxiety in their lifetime.

Brett
Is depression a common occurence in the work place?

Prof Ian Hickie
yes it does

Prof Ian Hickie
Depression and anxiety now accounts for about a third of all claims for income protection insurance and about 50% of costs. If we re ever to make a difference in this area then we need to start to identify these problems before people lose their jobs.

Justine
How many people suffer from depression in the workplace, Is this increasing?

Prof Ian Hickie - Oct 8, 2001 7:01:42 PM
Justine, we're not sure whether the rate of depression is acutally increasing - but certainly as community awareness increases we hope that it becomes a more common topic in workplace-based discussions.

nicole
Which occupational groups are more susceptable to depression?

Prof Ian Hickie
Nicole, contrary to many popular ideas its often those people in lower paid jobs who suffer most. Also those people who have little control over their workplace environment feel more at stress at work.

Arthur
Hello!

Andy
Hi I suffer from depression and wanted to know what I can do about it

paul
i sometimes suffer from sort of lonliness and i don't know what to do. it lasts sometimes all day and then i feel better what can i do to stop this feeling

Caz
I have suffered from depression and am having trouble coping a work. Should I tell my employer about my condition? I am worried that he might sack me if he finds out... help

paul
hello can u see me.

Prof Ian Hickie
Andy, the two most important things to do are first get good information - try our website for general information about symptoms, causes and treatments. Next, get some professional help - if you have a family doctor that's the best place to start
 
Prof Ian Hickie
yes paul - can see you

paul
i sometimes feel alone and the feeling sometimes lasts all day even though i am around people

nicole
There is a person at my work who I think may be suffering from depression. What should I do? Should I do anything or would that make him feel uncomfortable?

paul i sometimes feel lonley and the feeling lasts all day even though i am around people

Prof Ian Hickie
Paul - genuine depression is a mood state that goes on day after day. Often being around people doesn't make a big difference. It's important to check out whether you have any other symptoms. Go to the symptom checklists on the website and see what you score

paul
thank you i will

karl
hello, I am on

Prof Ian Hickie - Oct 8, 2001 7:16:01 PM
Nicole - for us this is one of the most important issues. Often people ignore others at work even though they know it's a problem. The main thing is to take the time to get involved. Have a cup of coffee together, go to lunch, take time to talk, share similar stories. Basically, don't go away and ignore the problem.

waiting
I want to hear what Professor Hickie has to say on this subject

Rosie
If I know someone has depression, should I share this information with other colleagues

Prof Ian Hickie
Waiting, do you have a specific question? I have been writing some things as we go. For us, changing attitudes in the workplace is critical. Identifying opportunities to change practices is a big goal for us!

Caz
I have suffered from depression, and I am having trouble at work. I am worried If I tell my boss I will get the sacked, or people will start talking behind my back. What can I do?

Prof Ian Hickie
Caz, this is one of the most important issues for people in the workplace. Currently, people usually don't tell anyone - even though others know that there is a problem! SO - if you know your boss well it often helps to start to explain!

nicole
I have used a lot of my sick leave as I have been suffering from depression. I don't know whether to go and speak to my boss about it or if that could work against me. What should I do?

Prof Ian Hickie
Rosie, it depends on how you come to know this piece of information - if it was told to you in confidence then you should keep it in confidence. Often there is a chance to share appropriate information with other work colleagues then we can try and make use of that to help the person with depression

Rosie
If someone is experiencing rapid mood swings at work, how do I know if they are just having a rough time or actually need help?

waiting
i suffered my first breakdown whilst working as a nurse at a Community Health Centre.I went on to receive Workcare but i was guilty before proven innocent some months later. The workplace never acknowledged stress and its sequelae. I went on to be diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. i am working part time and it is going well.

Prof Ian Hickie
Rosie, that's a great question! - we can't expect untrained people to make medical diagnoses. All we can expect is that they might assist people with obvious difficulties to get an assessment from a trained person. SO suggest that they see a doctor or maybe consider accompanying them to a health professional

Caz
I am more worried about how my co workers will react. As they might see me as inadequate and take work off me. Would it be better if I explained it to them individually?

Prof Ian Hickie
Waiting, it sounds like you have quite a complicated story. If you have bipolar disorder, then it is unlikely that the workplace simply caused this serious condition. However, for people with bipolar disorder then the workplace can be a very stressful place - particularly if you're working in a people-rich environment. Did you feel that any of your colleagues understood your particular difficulties or took account of your problems?

Sally
One of my employees has told me they have depression (and are on medication). Problem - the more understanding and supportive I try to be, the more he becomes unreliable. My other employees are becoming disgruntled over the 'special allowances' he is getting. How should I deal with this?

mary
my son aged 27years is experiencing cycling of mood swings every 3 weeks feelings of depression and high feelings of excitment and achieving things well. my mother was been diagnosed with bipolar depression several years ago after a long history of depression. my son is concerned but refuses to take medication so he is putting off reaching out for professional help.

Prof Ian Hickie
Caz, when you start to reveal problems in the workplace then like other personal issues you need to have a fairly good sense of who you can trust. Often it is important to accept practical help in difficult times rather than trying to cope with everything.

Prof Ian Hickie
Sally, having a mental health problem should be like other illnesses. It's not something that a person should take advantage of - but it sounds like the difficulty requires some further explanation - both with the person affected and also with others who are affected in the workplace. Often people are more sympathetic when they know people have a health problem and are not just manipulating the situation.

Sally
I have asked him if I could explain to the other employees his situation - but, he insists that I keep his confidence.
 
Prof Ian Hickie
Mary, this sounds like a situation you should be concerned about! Given the family history you describe it is important for your son to get professional help. Medication is not the only treatment for bipolar disorder. Most important is to know whether bipolar disorder is the diagnosis. I'd suggest making an appointment with a professional and actually accompanying your son to the appointment.
 
Prof Ian Hickie
Sally, in this situation it is important to keep the confidence but to also work out clear limits with the person with the problem. As with other physical health problems often it is necessary to make adjustments in the work environment to take account of the nature of the disability the person is suffering from. It's important to also discuss the problem for you if you do not let other people know that you are responding to a health problem.

nick
Is it true that depressions on the increase? Is this a lifestyle issue?

cate
I work as a nurse in an oncology setting...?are there strategies I can put in place to combat depression related to my work

Sally
So, do you think it would be a good idea to conduct a 'mental health workshop' for the employees in the company? This way he would not feel singled out.

Prof Ian Hickie
Nicole, in these situations it often becomes very important to try and indicate to your boss that you have a health problem - and are not just avoiding work or not coping with the job. Often employers are glad to hear what the problem actually is so that you can make allowances for the situation

waiting
people that i expected to be supportive weren't and vice verse. I have a lot of nursing friends who were okay but depression is such a hidden disease. when i returned to a busy medical ward, after having left Community health, i was a mess. It was so busy and i was so unresponsive. Every thing i did took a long time and my brain was so slow. i have had two work episodes with my bipolar and have taken 12 and 9 months to recover. I was on workcare both times. proving my case with Workcare twice was a long and protracted process. GIO psychiatrists do not make it easy. that was the worst part- i was not a criminal, but i certainly felt like one.

Prof Ian Hickie
Cate - depression in cancer wards is very common. Often it is missed because people think it is simply understandable, the most important thing is to promote discussion - among the staff and then among the patients. Its an important area to promote - also leaving booklets and information packs is useful. Contact our office for more booklets

Prof Ian Hickie
Nick: we don't think that depression is on the increase overall - but it is increasing among younger persons. Society is changing - what we need to make sure of is that we have good contacts with other people who can support us in times of stress.

Louisec
Professor Hickie, is depression really increasing amongst younger people or are people just more open about talking about their condition now? i believe the latter as when I was young I didn't` really know about the condition and it would never have been diagnosed. Yet, I`ve been clinically depressed since about eight years old.
 
Prof Ian Hickie
Sally, JUST TODAY we launched a program for raising awareness in the workplace. It's a great idea and one we will promoting this facility shortly. We need to make sure that it helps - but it's where we will be going in the future.

Prof Ian Hickie
Waiting - you've hit on another of our major goals. we're now working with the insurance industry to try and change the situation where people get sent for reports from various 'experts' and only get aggravation! The system is out of control currently -please send us details of your experience (to our website address) - as it may further help us to change the system!

Dean
For the past couple of months my wife has not been sleeping well and has started to drink alot of alcohol when she gets home from work. I know she has been under alot of pressure and has been working very hard, but she refuses to talk about it or even share her feelings at home. When she`s not working she is happy and relaxed, but when she is, she is snappy and I just feel plain helpless. What can I do to help?

naomi
i am 26 and my partner has just lost her job through depression. I am trying to be supportive, but I am finding it hard both emotionally and financially. I have tried to tell her that working is a good part of her recovery and treatment is this true?

Prof Ian Hickie
Louisec, best we can tell the actual rate of depression is increasing among younger people and is accompanied by increasing rates of suicide and drug and alcohol use. However, depression awareness is also increasing so we are having more discussion of the topic. Interestingly, depression rates among older people may actually be decreasing due to better physical health - so it s not just awareness that leads to changes in depression rates.

Prof Ian Hickie
Dean, the main thing to do is to stay involved, Often men notice these things but do nothing about it. It is really useful to comment and suggest getting professional help - but accompany your wife - help her to explain - dont just tell her to get help. most people who are in trouble welcome their spouse attempt to get involved.

Louisec
What are your major objectives for Depression in the Workplace?

mia
hello

Dean
She's been talking lately about leaving work and starting a family. I don't know if this is right for us at this moment - she is essentially a `career woman`!

tu
Is there a genetic association with depression and personality disorder?

Prof Ian Hickie
Naomi, getting people back to work should always be a major goal of depression treatment. Unfortunately many people (including doctors) tell people to stay away from work - it s really important to emphasise getting good treatment and then getting back to work.

naomi
I am trying but she is very unwilling, is there any books or information that beyondblue has that I can give to her?

tu
Does depression affect a legal practising certificate?

Prof Ian Hickie
Dean, many people believe (falsely) that depression is caused by their workplace. SO many find ways of leaving work believing that it will fix the problem. If you're already depressed then having a child is not a great idea! we've just launched a national post-natal depression program that focuses on identifying depression before the baby is born!

Prof Ian Hickie
tu, the question of genetics leading to various types of psychiatric disorder is extremely interesting. For some disorders, there is a clear genetic component (like manic-depressive illness and severe depression). For personality disorders, some clearly run in families - but this is likely to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental (learnt) factors.

Prof Ian Hickie
Naomi, i suggest you download some information from our website - but then contact our office (via email) for more detailed information

naomi
Thankyou.

Prof Ian Hickie
tu - I'm not sure what type of legal certificate you are talking about. SOme workplaces do require statements about mental and physical health. having depression should not be a reason not to practice most professions.

Stephanie
I have been feeling down for quite some time at work. I thought it was due to the way I feel about my job but recently I feel my colleagues have been making me the subject of jokes and I`m beginning to feel paraniod. I have even stopped contacting my family members as I don`t feel up to it!

Christian
what issues are there surrounding employers who suffer from depression? I have an employee who is suffering from depression, he has been taking sick days and I am unsure on how to approach him. I don't want to have to sack him, but it not fair on the other staff.

Prof Ian Hickie
Stephanie, most people with depression find that they have trouble coping with friends and family and just withdraw. That's when depression gets dangerous! its really important to try and stay in contact with people even though you don't feel like it at all!

Prof Ian Hickie
Christian, this is a major issue for all employers. Do you see people with physical health difficulties as a problem in the same way as you do this person with depression? The main thing is to take up the issue in just the same way you would with someone with a physical health problem - so that you can try and sort it out BEFORE you simply sack the person.

Stephanie  
To be honest, my problems at work are deeper. A close colleague recently took his own life because of financial and emotional problems. What bothers me most is the overwhelming guilt I feel about this - he had approached me, most likely for help. I dismissed his worries as part of the stressful environment we work in.

Prof Ian Hickie
Stephanie, this is such a typical story. Lots of people say that they had no idea when someone suicided - but usually people have noticed things and not responded. You may need to talk to someone about your particular experiences.

Bernard
I have a mental illness, how can I avoid being discriminated against in the workforce?

Prof Ian Hickie
Everyone - we plan to make these live discussions a regular feature of the site - SO send us your suggestions for future helpful topics

Michael
I have suffered from depression and have tried to commit suicide twice. I have found the workplace to be a very unforgiving environment. Sometimes on a bad day I wonder if it would a better option.

Matthew
I'm a mechanic. The bloke next to me has been taking alot of sickies because his mum is sick with cancer. She's probably going to die soon. I can see hes not handling it to good and I want to be there for him but I don't want to look like a girl in front of the boys.

Para
Hi

Prof Ian Hickie
Bernard, discrimination is obviously a really big problem for people with mental illnesses, By concentrating on increasing awareness of depression and anxiety we hope to improve the situation for everyone else who has a mental illness

Para
I have been looking at this web site and I did the quetionaires and I am wondering how I can bring this up at the doctors. I feel a little silly that I feel that I have a form of depression.

Bernard
A useful topic would be how to deal with bullies in the workplace

Bernard
jessica says hello!!!

Prof Ian Hickie
Michael, we understand that getting back to work is a major issue for those with mental illness - the best proof that they have recovered. Currently, it is really difficult and many workplaces are very unforgiving. It's critical to our mission to try and change that - otherwise we are not going to change that sense of hopelessness that many people with mental health problems suffer from.

Prof Ian Hickie
Matthew, - its good that you are concerned - its really helpful if you do talk about it with him and try to sort out the best way to deal with the problem for as long as it goes on. Providing the practical help you can is really useful

Prof Ian Hickie
Para - if you do the questions - print them out and take them to the doctor with you - it's often a great help to the doctor as well as yourself.

Prof Ian Hickie
Jessica - hang in there with bernard!

Penny
I think I may be experiencing depression, but don't know how my boss will react - I don't know if I can trust him to talk to him..what should I do?

Prof Ian Hickie
Bernard - we'll take up your topic about bullying in the workplace. Vic Health has just done a major study in victoria to highlight this issue. We need to put as much emphasis on it as we do on reducing bullying in schools.

Prof Ian Hickie
Penny, often its important to get a firm medical opinion before discussing it directly with a boss you're not sure you can trust. Then its easier to present the facts to a boss and what you are doing to fix the problem

Prof Ian Hickie
Everybody - if you have experiences of discrimination in the workplace get in contact with us - we need these stories to continue to put pressure on employers, insurers and others to respond

Penny
I have already tried my GP , but she is no help and appears to have no real interest in my case, and tend to rush me out of the door.

Prof Ian Hickie
Penny, Like other medical situations - if you don't get good help - first complain, then second change doctors!!! - it's really important not to give up before the problem gets dealt with!

patsy
I am going through menopause, I am 49 years old with an 8yearold child, I find every day I am constantly feeling hopeless and despondant, I cannot go on HRT because of a medical conditon, I find that I just cannot get past this feeling of hopelessness

patsy
I dont work outside of the home am i still eligable to join this chat

Prof Ian Hickie
Patsy, you`ve raised a lot of really important medical and psychological problems. Menopause can be a most important time for onset of emotional problems. Some of these appear to respond to HRT while others require very specific psychological treatments. I suggest you see a doctor who really understands these problems to get a treatment plan

Prof Ian Hickie
Patsy - the discussion is open to everyone (on line)!

patsy
Most doctors just dismiss you, I even went to see female doctor and had tests, scans, blood tests, etc, everything was fine her answer was you are in menopause if you cant take HRT then just live with it, I am in a realatively small country town, where good help is not always there, it is hard to be bringing up a small child when all you really want to do is stop the world and get off, the mental state brings a whole heap of phsical problems, one wonders what is real and what is not, in fact I have developed a fear of doctors, this fear is irational to most but to me I think I am going to hear bad news and I rationalise that I would rather not hear that, so I push myself through each day for the sake of my hubby and little boy

Prof Ian Hickie
Everyone - that's it for this evening - tomorrow night Dr Jane Burns will discuss teenagers and depression and then on Wednesday Bernard McNair will facilitate a discussion on consumer and carer issues. thanks for your participation!

Prof Ian Hickie
Patsy, there are lots of options - not just HRT. Living in a small town is a really difficult situation - but it is still important to get good quality help. many people fear the response that they will get from their doctor - but when they do find one that really helps then their attitude changes! Antidepressant therapy (drug or non-drug) is probably what you need - let us know where you are and we may be able to point you in the right direction.