January 26, 2007 – In Canada, nearly half a million workers (almost 4%) experienced a depressive episode in 2001, according to a recent Statistics Canada study1. Four work-related factors are associated with depression – mild, moderate or severe: occupation, hours worked, atypical schedules and stress.
The survey shows that women (5.1%) are more affected than men (2.6%). All sexes combined, one in 12 Canadian workers (8%) had experienced a depressive episode in their lifetime.
On the professional level, depression mainly affects employees in the sales and service sector (4.6%), followed by white collar workers (3.9%) and, further, blue collar workers (2.5%).
Depression episodes are higher among employees who work part-time (5.7%) compared to those who work more than 40 hours (2.6%) per week. In addition, people who work atypical schedules are more prone to depression (5.6%) than those who work days (3.5%). In Quebec, no less than 22% of employees are assigned to evening or night shifts.
Among workers who said they experienced high stress at work, 6% had experienced depression in the 12 months preceding the survey, compared to 2.5% for the rest.
The Statistics Canada survey also reveals that each depressed worker experiences, on average, 32 days of disability per year. Nevertheless, 57% of them declare five days or less of incapacity, while 40% declare none. On the other hand, they feel the effects of depression more on their social and family life than on their ability to work, concludes Statistics Canada.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
1. Gilmour H, Patten SB, Depression and problems at work, Statistics Canada, Health reports, flight. 18, no 1, February 2007, 9-23.