Job search depression and how to overcome it

The annual economic cost of depression in 1995 was $600 per depressed worker. Nearly one-third of these costs are for treatment and 72% are costs related to absenteeism and lost productivity at workv. Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for referrals by BetterHelp, Online-Therapy.com, and Brightside. It can be difficult to see a loved one struggle with depression. As a family member, friend, or colleague of someone who is depressed, you can play a vital role in helping them learn how to cope.

• In fact, a 2014 study found that universally delivered workplace mental health interventions — and more specifically, cognitive-behavioral health-based programs — can reduce the level of depression symptoms among workers.
• When seeking help for workplace depression from an employer, employees may benefit from knowing they have certain legally protected rights.
• The finding of greater depression severity among the 34% of participants not employed raises the question of whether and how depression severity may contribute to unemployment.
• The clinical and occupational correlates of work productivity loss among employed patients with depression.
• Throw in a global pandemic, and it can be a miserable mission.

“It is very natural to get overwhelmed from all these factors and feel depressed or anxious,” she explained. Adding to this, Parmar said many people might be working more hours https://remotemode.net/ than usual, since it can be hard to keep track of time while at home. This depression will affect your level of functioning in your job as well as at home, Parmar said.

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Writing these positive attributes down may not only help you develop a list of strengths but can also be a helpful reference whenever you find you need to give yourself a mental or emotional boost. Make a schedule of activities during the week and weekend so you make sure you are doing at least one enjoyable or meaningful activity each day. Try to consider alternative reasons why you may have been let go; make a note of these and reference them when needed. This step may help you keep your self esteem intact and enable you to minimize self-blame and negative self-talk.

Verywell Mind’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In these difficult times, it’s especially important to have coping strategies and smart, manageable goals as you work toward your professional objectives, which is why I’ve gathered some key strategies for you here.

How Common Is Depression After Losing a Job?

If you chose to explore this path, you might work with a mental health professional on how to manage your emotions and commit to following through with goals, despite obstacles. Most employers will refer a depressed employee for help if they are aware of the symptoms. 64% of NMHA Survey respondents said they would refer an employee to an EAP health professionalvii. Depression ranks among the top three workplace problems for employee assistance professionals, following only family crisis and stressii. “Depression is a medical issue and often needs the help of a doctor or other supportive clinician. It may take a combination of treatments to get relief and improvement, but it’s worth it in the way that treatment for any other medical issue is worth it,” says Gilmore.

• Job hunting depression is real, and it requires real solutions to beat.
• 64% of NMHA Survey respondents said they would refer an employee to an EAP health professionalvii.
• But job search depression is unique in that the feelings of depression are because of the job search process.
• Counseling options are available to individuals struggling with depression, but can you gauge effectiveness?

We used patient self-report questionnaires to obtain information on depression severity, work absence and productivity impairment, health status , and demographic characteristics. The PHQ-9 was used to measure the severity of depression symptoms. Percent impairment while working due to health, a measure of presenteeism, was calculated as a 10-point rating of depression and job search degree of impairment while at work divided by 10. The number of hours of productivity impairment at work was calculated as the hours actually worked multiplied by the percent impairment while at work. It’s not unusual to develop feelings of depression after losing a job. A job loss can add a huge amount of stress to your life and damage your self-esteem.

Public & Not-for-Profit Senior-Level Offer Negotiation: Maximize Your Job Offer

In fact, most people will be flattered that you trust them enough to confide in them, and it will only strengthen your relationship. As well as making a huge difference in how you feel, reaching out to others can help you feel more in control of your situation, and you never know what opportunities will arise.

External factors outside your controlcan contribute to job depression. In this instance, it’s hard not to feel hopeless about your job search. These days, it’s hard to find a professional who isn’t on LinkedIn. LinkedIn now has 830 million members from more than 200 countries worldwide. Workplaces are complex collections of individuals all striving towards different goals, no matter how united teams might be.

The positive effects of not yielding to job hunting depression

When these things happen, many people avoid telling their supervisor and/or HR out of fear of reprisal or shame and self-stigmatization. As coaches, we’ve both seen just how large of an impact the pandemic and job loss/job insecurity has had on mental health. Even Canadians who haven’t lost their jobs are seeing huge impacts to their mental health. A recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute found that 50% of Canadians reported worsening mental health since the pandemic began with many feeling worried (44%) and anxious (41%). You are NOT ALONE. Job hunting and its consequent frustrations are among the most common experiences of any individual entering the job market. And job search depression is a natural by-product of this frustration. Even when it gets you down, know that we have all been in this same boat at some point in our careers.

Go easy on yourself and don’t attempt to bottle up your feelings. If you allow yourself to feel what you feel, even the most unpleasant, negative feelings will pass. In fact, a 2014 study found that universally delivered workplace mental health interventions — and more specifically, cognitive-behavioral health-based programs — can reduce the level of depression symptoms among workers. If you’re noticing a link between depressive symptoms and your workplace, don’t wait to seek help. Talking with your immediate supervisor or boss is a good first step — as long as you feel supported by them.

The feelings generated by losing a job are easier to accept if you can find the lesson in your loss. That can be very difficult at such a low point in your life, but ask yourself if there’s anything you can learn from this experience. Maybe your unemployment has given you a chance to reflect on what you want out of life and rethink your career priorities. Whether you’ve been laid off, downsized, forced to take early retirement, or seen contract work dry up, losing your employment is one of life’s most stressful experiences. Aside from the obvious financial anguish it can cause, the stress of losing a job can also take a heavy toll on your mood, relationships, and overall mental and emotional health. Cognitive restructuring is a major focus in CBT, but there are other coping skills that can have just as big an impact.

If you’re having trouble following through with these self-help tips to cope with job loss and unemployment stress, HelpGuide’s free Emotional Intelligence Toolkit can help. By learning to manage troublesome thoughts, stress, and difficult emotions you’ll find it easier to follow through on positive intentions and regain control of your job search. Your natural reaction at this difficult time may be to withdraw from friends and family out of shame or embarrassment.

Tips to cope with job loss

There are employers out there that pride themselves on fostering a collaborative, supportive workplace where employees like you can thrive. Even though so many people say depression interferes with work performance, few disclose it to their employer. It’s likely that people don’t speak up and ask for help because there is still a stigma around it. Mental health discrimination at work unfortunately discourages open dialogue. People may be worried that they will be viewed as incapable of doing their job and could be let go as a result of asking for help.

Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Especially during periods when you have limited energy and focus, I recommend devoting the majority of your time to networking as opposed to applying to job ads. Constructive feedback can help you improve your responses at your next interview and increase your chances of landing the job.

When Depressed at Work, How Do You Get Support from Your Employer?

The COVID-19 pandemichas exacerbated this even more, with many people losing their jobs and struggling mentally as a result. Mental health is also prevalent in military careers, as high rates of depression, anxiety, homelessness can attest to. While there have been efforts to highlight the struggles of veterans and ease them through conditions such as PTSD, many veterans still report a lack of support and significant long-term effects once they return home from their service.