Overview

• An analysis of 536,279 workers from 37 states between 2015 and 2019 found community and social service roles had the highest lifetime depression diagnosis rate at 20.5 percent, followed by food preparation and serving jobs at 20.1 percent.
• Industries including arts, entertainment, sports and media, accommodation and food services, retail trade, and education and library positions also showed elevated depression rates.
• Mining, construction, agriculture and engineering reported the lowest rates of diagnosed depression but mining and construction workers face the highest suicide rates among U.S. adult employees.
• Women were diagnosed with depression at twice the rate of men, underscoring gender disparities in mental health reporting and access to care.
• Dr. Manish Sapra and other health experts urge employers to move beyond one-size-fits-all benefits by tailoring mental health services and reducing stigma in high-risk workforces.