Health
According to a recent study, workplace depression is not caused by a pile of work, but by an unfair boss and an unfavorable work environment.
Danish scientists have come to the conclusion that a large amount of work has no effect on whether an employee will suffer from depression or not.
An employee's mood depends most of all on his environment and the attitude of the manager towards him, says one of the researchers, psychologist Matias Brødsgaard Grynderup from the Department Aarhus University Clinical Medicine.
“This implies that the risk of workplace depression cannot be minimized by reducing the workload. This is influenced by other factors, and these are the ones that you should pay attention to in the future,” says Grinderup.
The results of the study have been published in several scientific journals: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Psychoneuroendocrinology and The Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health .
Depression test
The study was conducted among 4,500 public workers in Danish kindergartens, schools, hospitals, offices and other institutions who were asked to answer questions in questionnaires.
In addition, the researchers conducted one-on-one conversations with most participants to identify which of them were suffering from depression.
They also looked at the concentration of cortisol, the hormone responsible for stress, in participants' saliva samples.
The questionnaires helped scientists identify the attitudes of participants in the experiment to their work environment. This refers to the relationship with the boss and how equal relations are in the workplace.
Causes of depression
According to the researchers in the study, they found that depression makes people think about not being able to complete certain tasks, although depression itself was not caused by a lot of work.
Early studies found a link between pressure at work, high cortisol levels and the risk of developing clinical depression, but a new study has shown otherwise.
By analyzing the relationship between cortisol levels and the risk of developing depression, scientists have found that high levels of this hormone are associated with a lower risk of developing depression. This means that it will be possible to use this indicator to measure the risk of developing depression in the future.
How to overcome depression
According to scientists, the best way to prevent depression at work is for managers to analyze how subordinates perceive their environment and, if necessary, make the necessary changes.
“I recommend a management style in which all employees are treated properly and the organizational component is transparent, i.e. managers share information as much as possible with with their employees,” says Grinderup.
Signs of depression
1. State of depression, dreary mood
2. Loss of interest in everything
3. Losing pleasure from things that used to bring joy
4. Severe mental retardation
5. Severe fatigue.
6. Too negative attitude towards oneself
Read also: Depression – Causes of the Condition
How to Get Out of Depression
1. Love yourself just as you are. Look at yourself in the mirror, remember all your positive qualities and don't forget about them, but forget all the negatives. Do this every day.
2. Start helping people, or if you're already doing it, do it more often. Think about it, because there are people who are much less fortunate – people with disabilities, orphans, and just people who need help.
3. There is no need to be alone and close yourself from the world around you. Talk to people more, meet friends more often.
4. You can have a cat or dog (or other pet) and take care of it, develop it.
5. Make small changes in your life. For example, go somewhere, no matter where, to another country or city, or simply choose a recreation center nearby.
6. Try changing your wardrobe. Collect all the old stuff, get rid of it and go shopping. The same method can be used with nutrition – try to cook new dishes, abandoning the familiar ones.
* In case none of these methods have worked for you, there are always specialists who can help you. Do not hesitate to consult a doctor who, like an ordinary person, will try to help you.
Read also: Depression – symptoms of the condition