A MELBOURNE University study shows almost one in six cases of depression among working Victorians were caused by job stress.
Statistically, this amounts to more than 21,000 cases of depression in the state per year.
According to Associate Professor Tony LaMontagne, who led the study, employers should be aware of the strain unreasonable work demands can have on the mental health of their workers. This could result in increased burden on the health system and increased absenteeism.
According to the study of 1100 Victorian workers, 17% of depressed working women and 13% of depressed working men blamed job stress for their condition. Workers in low-skilled jobs are also twice as likely as those in higher-skilled professions to experience job stress.
Job stress is defined as a combination of high job demands and lack of control over the method of completing the job.
According to VicHealth, given the amount of time people spend at work, employers should do more to promote good health as opposed to being the cause of health problems.
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