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Stress at work today - depression tomorrow?
Summary of an article by Ina Sockoll & Ina Kramer (BKK Bundesverband, Essen) in the journal "Die BKK", Issue 02/2010, under the title "Heute Stress im Job, morgen Depression?"
Despite all the speculation on whether the incidence of mental disorders has really increased in recent years, there is general agreement both in public and professional circles that one of the most important issues in the field of prevention in future will be to maintain peoples' mental health at work. In view of the new work related risks that have developed through the changing stress factors and from the threats resulting from the global economic and financial crisis, scientific research in this area will be a priority.
The "perceived" epidemiology with huge consequences.
In the working environment context, no other subject at present is of such immense interest as mental illness and behavioural disorders. The increasing work incapacity figures and the alarmingly high numbers of people taking early retirement are being spoken of in the media and also in scientific circles as the "epidemic of the 21st century". Admittedly there are relevant epidemiological studies and discussion papers that suggest the increase of mental disorders in the population is less dramatic than might first appear. Nevertheless the drastic changes taking place in the western workforce with the incidence of "new" psychosocial risks (e.g. atypical employment, job insecurity, difficulty in balancing working and family life) evidently call for urgent action.
