Sometimes
referred to as the invisible illness, depression affects approximately 5
million people in the UK at the present time. According to the BBC,
more people than ever are presenting at their GP with symptoms of depression,
and many mental health charities believe this to be “the tip of the iceberg”.
What
is Depression?
We’ve
all been there: felt a little low or perhaps sad, only for these feelings to
end and for us to soon bound back to our normal, happy selves once again. Yet, for
some, the feelings of sadness and despair are much more severe and don’t just
go away after a short period of time. Depression comes in many forms, and
ranges in severity. Symptoms shown by suffers of depression can include the
constant feeling that something bad is going to happen, loss of appetite,
excess alcohol consumption, crying, lack of motivation and the loss of interest
in activities you would usually enjoy doing.
If you experience any of these symptoms, or cannot seem to shake
feelings of despair or continuing unhappiness, you should seek medical advice
immediately. Should you have thoughts of suicide, you should present to your
nearest A&E department immediately or call emergency services.
Work-Induced
Depression
One
form of depression, which is increasingly prevalent in today’s society, is
work-induced depression. This can be apparent on its own, or can be experienced
with anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Stress at work can
cause employees to become anxious and to slide into a state of depression,
making them doubt their self-worth. If you work in an environment that is
likely to be very stressful, measures should be taken by your employer to
minimise the risk of you suffering from excessive stress and/or anxiety.
Likewise, if you are susceptible to depression and stress, and have informed
your employer of this, they should address any matters that may cause you
stress. Accidents that occur at work can have severe psychological consequences
which need to be addressed in conjunction with any physical injury you may have
suffered.
Personal
Injury and Depression
More
often than not, people associate personal injury claims with physical pain and
disability, leaving those suffering from stress and depression as a result of
an accident feeling as if they have nowhere to turn. The repercussions of any
accident that was not your fault can be mentally devastating, which is why it
is important to know that if you do suffer psychologically, you can get the
help you require and the money you need to pay for any treatment required.
Did
you know that if you suffer from depression, anxiety or stress as a result of
employer negligence, you may be eligible to receive damages in excess of
£200,000? If your employer has failed to provide a safe working environment, or
refused to provide the necessary support and actions to resolve the situation,
you could submit a claim for personal injury compensation. There are many
situations in which you could be eligible to claim, and employers should be
aware of this.
A
Turning Tide
Stress
was once considered part and parcel of working life, but fortunately, employees
don’t need to put up with unnecessary anxiety in the workplace and there are
laws in place to ensure their rights are maintained.
However, mental illnesses
still remain somewhat of a taboo, and even with campaigns such as Mind’s, Time
to Change and the BBC’s public support of mental health awareness, some people
still find it embarrassing to admit they are experiencing difficulties. Yet,
with the aid of positive publicity and the rise of successful compensation
claims, it is clear that depression in the workplace is becoming less of a
stigma.
Have
you suffered from anxiety, depression or stress due to working conditions or an
incident at work? Speak to one of our legal team and discover how we can help
you make a claim.
