Since air crash investigators released information that a depressed Germanwings co-pilot may have deliberately crashed a plane into the French Alps on March 24 killing all 150 people aboard, some people have jumped to the conclusion that depression might cause someone to be a danger to others.
For those who treat individuals suffering from depression that belief is, in itself, the real danger because it may end up preventing individuals desperately in need of treatment from getting it for fear of repercussions with their employers
“Depression does not cause those kind of behaviors,” said Kelly Clasgens, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with St. Elizabeth’s Employee Assistance Program. “To say that depression is the causative reason for that (tragedy) sheds a negative and harmful light on those suffering from depression, and I think the public could be getting the wrong impression the way some of the news is being presented about the crash.
“There’s already a stigma against people who have depression and this event certainly does not help them because they may be less apt to seek treatment for their illness because they might not want it in their records. But, many people aren’t aware there are (federal) regulations that protect the privacy of those records and that depression is very treatable.”
St. Elizabeth Healthcare Employee Assistance Program counselors serve associates at more than 70 area businesses annually, and Ms. Clasgens says depression is possibly the most common ailment they see.
It can wreak havoc on an individual’s personal and professional life, and often does for a long period of time before they finally seek treatment for this potentially life-threatening illness. Ms. Clasgens says instead, many depressed people wait and suffer silently because the stigma is already so strong against those with mental illness of any type.
Now, she and some of her colleagues fear that the news of this deadly air tragedy and the erroneous assumption by some that the pilot’s depression prompted him to fly the plane into the mountain, may prevent some of those in need from seeking help for fear it may cost them their jobs.
“Many people already wait, often years, to get treatment, and this certainly does not help with that fact,” she said. “There is some harm in waiting (for treatment). ” Symptoms will probably get worse and often the negative thinking becomes engrained and harder to change.”
Another problem of waiting to seek treatment is that typically without some sort of professional help, depressed people tend to start exhibiting the very kinds of behavior that can, in fact, cause job loss, like reduced productivity, isolation and irritability.
Know the symptoms and get help
So the message from the behavioral health treatment professionals at St. Elizabeth is that if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms for longer than a month’s time, seek help from a licensed professional therapist or physician.
“Some of the symptoms of depression include sadness, tearfulness, irritability, low energy, lack of motivation, and changes in appetite,” Ms. Clasgens said. “In general, if you are experiencing significant changes in the way you previously functioned, seek help.
“In others, depression may be noticeable in their appearance in that they sometimes start appearing a little unkempt or maybe they’re making a lot of derogatory comments, showing a lot of negative thinking and isolating themselves from others.”
For those who fear possible employment repercussions, Ms. Clasgens notes that, just like cancer or diabetes, depression is a medical illness and as such those who suffer from it are protected by federal privacy and employment laws. In fact, those diagnosed with depression have a right to confidential treatment, as well as protection from retribution from your employer as the result of your illness.
That’s particularly important to note since those who don’t obtain treatment for ongoing depression may actually end up exhibiting behaviors that really do cause them to be less productive on the job. And that is something that can get you in hot water with your employer.
It is a protected diagnosis,” Ms. Clasgens said. “So if you are having issues that would prompt you to obtain higher levels of care (like inpatient treatment or medical leave), they would be protected. ” In fact, I would say that people are more likely to lose their jobs if they don’t address depression and end up missing a lot of work without any reason in the eyes of their employer. ” In fact, depression is one of the leading causes of lost productivity on the job.”
