Annual Professions Survey

Annual Professions Survey - Opening Our Eyes to Depression Among Australian Professionals

Results from a survey of over 7,500 Australian professionals indicated higher than average levels of depressive symptoms when compared with the general Australian population. These higher rates of depression were consistently found across all age groups. A significant proportion of survey respondents also indicated that they used alcohol or other (non-prescription) drugs to manage symptoms of depression. Moreover, the current findings expose the apparent lack of understanding about depression and its management by many professionals.

These preliminary findings highlight an urgent need for senior leaders in professional service firms to acknowledge and respond promptly to the high incidence of depression. This involves taking a proactive approach to educate their workforce and provide appropriate access to services to reduce the personal cost to their employees, the financial cost to their organisations and ultimately, the wider community.

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Reference

Beyond Blue (2007)