According to a Europe wide Impact of Depression in the Workplace Audit, Britain has the highest level of work place depression than any other country in the European Union. 26 percent of British workers were diagnosed as clinically depressed in the 12 months prior to the study compared to just 12 percent of Italian workers.
Additionally, it was reported that Britons take over ten percent more sick days annually compared to the European average.
The president from the European Depression Association has reportedly said that the Impact of Depression in the Workplace Audit demonstrates that awareness needs to be raised and employees suffering from symptoms of depression need to be recognised and helped by their workplace.
The fact that Briton has the highest reported number of cases could be a reflection either of the fact that we are recognising the symptoms of the mental health disorder and individuals are more readily seeking help or that the working conditions and economic climate in this country cause greater levels of stress and depression.
In either case, if British workers had effective, non-toxic means of addressing reducing stress and addressing depression they could improve their health, general wellbeing and quality of life.
Mindfulness meditation is the art of non-judgmental awareness to the present moment. By living and breathing in the present moment rather than feeling sad about the past or anxious for the future, people have been clinically found to be mentally and physically healthy.
Click here to our specialist mindfulness course for Depression.