D#6, HW#8 - Taking Notes on a Source

Sanderson, K., Andrews, G. (2006 February). Common mental disorders in the workforce: recent findings from descriptive and social epidemiology. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 51, Issue 2, p63-75. Retrieved from
http://ezp.mc.maricopa.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pbh&AN=20281184&site=ehost-live


This article is a review of findings relevant to mental illness in the workplace (primarily depression and anxiety). It synthesizes a number of completed studies and surveys, arriving at the conclusion that there is a strong correlation between low productivity and poor mental health. It argues that addressing mental health in the workplace, especially via risk reduction, is important to reduce poor worker productivity. It states that depression is prevalent in the workforce. Depression in employees is more closely tied with presenteeism (reduced output while at work) than absenteeism. From comparisons of gathered statistics to current job environment models, changes can be made in the job environment to lower the impact of depression in the workplace. Some of these changes include reducing time pressure in assigned work, increasing or adding rewards/benefits for completed work, and ensuring that employees understand the reasons for decisions made. The primary author is Kristy Sanderson, PhD. Dr. Sanderson is a Research Fellow at the Queensland University of Technology, Centre for Health Research, in Kelvin Grove, Australia. The secondary author is Gavin Andrews, MD. Dr. Andrews is a professor for the School of Psychiatry at St. Vincent's Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. The paper was supported by a Fellowship to Dr. Sanderson from National Health and Medical Research Council Public Health (Australia). The paper presents itself as primarily an informative work, and I believe this is the main purpose of the paper, to provide information on the current relationship of mental illness and reduced work productivity. The main audience is workers in the public health community. This is indicated by the scientifically-presented results, and heavy use of public health surveys as sources.