Bipolar problems cost twice as much from business settings as depression takes from a workplace. Did you know that Bipolar disorder doubles costs in productivity from major depressive disorders, according to a study at NIH/National Institute of Mental Health. Their results showed that every American worker with bipolar disorder averaged 65.5 lost workdays in one year, compared to 27.2 for major depression.
Major depression is more than six times as prevalent… and yet in spite of that … bipolar disorder costs business nearly half as much – at $14.1 billion yearly.
You can read more in the September 2006 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. The study is based on one-year data from 3378 employed participants to the National Co-morbidity Survey Replication, from a national survey of 9,282 American adults.
Because of the job performance that suffers through bipolar problems, this study suggests that health professionals focus more on recovery of work function. It also suggests that workplace supports be developed.
Does your business offer an employee assistance program or worksite occupational health clinics, to help depressed or bipolar employees better manage job demands?
Bipolar disorder does make it very hard to work in certain environments and work for certain people. Its an ongoing struggle that you just have to beat.
Please check out our forums at www.diagnosedbipolar.com
Posted by: Colin | June 6, 2008 2:19 AM | Permalink to Comment