Depression causes employees to move to less stressful jobs

A third (33%) of people with depression reported they have quit their job due to their condition, a report by mental health treatment provider Flow Neuroscience found.

Those aged 26 to 34 were the most severely impacted group, as 46% said they had to move jobs as a result of their depression.

Two thirds (64%) of those who moved jobs due to depression said they did so to find something less stressful and easier to manage, while 43% said they did so to work fewer hours. Nearly half (44%) said they earned less after moving jobs – an average of £334 less per month, or £4,008 per year.

Employers can retain employees with depression by encouraging conversations about mental health in the workplace, according to Erin Lee, CEO of Flow Neuroscience.

Speaking to HR magazine, she said: “One of the most important things HR can do really goes beyond just dealing with depression, and that’s helping to drive a company culture where there is dialogue around employee wellbeing and mental health.

“There’s little point in having a mental health policy in place – if you’re also telling your employees that they need to be working 80 hours a week.

“We need to recognise that people are very good at masking mental health challenges, particularly in times of economic uncertainty, as they may not want to speak openly at the risk of looking like a liability.”

Flow Neuroscience found 40% of people did not share their diagnosis as they didn’t want to admit something was “wrong with them”, while 39% cited shame as the reason.

Training and resources around how to spot depression should be provided by employers, suggested Annmarie Carvalho, former lawyer and founder of mental health consultancy The Carvalho Consultancy.

“Some of the most effective approaches I’ve seen organisations take is to break down the stigma by creating knowledge hubs of information on their systems including guides around specific mental health issues and training on how to spot signs of issues such as depression in ourselves and in our teammates,” she told HR magazine.

“Any such training offered should be interactive, ideally in person and include small group discussions about common mental health issues that arise and the difficulties of life.

“The training should be mandatory for anyone in a position of management and guides on how to work effectively with mental health issues should be provided to all managers, covering subjects like how to have appropriate discussions with team members about mental health.”

Managers should also help employees with depression manage their workload, Julia Lyons, senior clinical lead at therapy services provider Onebright, told HR magazine.

“While stress and depression are not always directly linked, employees dealing with depression should be supported where possible to ensure that their workload is not perceived as overwhelming or worsening their mental health.

“Each person is different but working with employees that are dealing with depression and offering them the chance to collaboratively think of solutions to manage their day and tasks can support them in these times.

“Part of making this effective is creating an environment where employees feel empowered and comfortable to take decisions which benefit their wellbeing whilst also fulfilling their duties. More than that, it is about helping them feel able to tell a manager when they are having a particularly challenging day, and conversely, when they want more responsibilities.”

Flow Neuroscience surveyed 1,000 people who suffer from depression plus, as well as 2,001 UK adults between 10 May and 14 May 2024.