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Study of Over Half a Million U.S. Workers Finds Depression Rates Vary Sharply by Industry

Employers are being urged to develop industry-specific mental health programs following researchers’ identification of stark differences in depression and suicide rates across sectors.

A new study suggests that workers in certain industries are significantly more likely to battle depression and frequent mental health.
Is Your Job Secretly Draining You New Study Lists Professions Most Linked to Depression (Credits: Pexeks)
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Overview

  • The analysis of 536,279 workers across 37 states from 2015 to 2019 revealed that depression diagnosis rates range from under 7 percent in some sectors to over 20 percent in others.
  • Community and social service roles had the highest lifetime depression rate at 20.5 percent, with food preparation and serving jobs close behind at 20.1 percent.
  • Arts, entertainment, accommodation and food services, health and social assistance, retail trade, and legal, education and library professions also exceeded a 16 percent depression diagnosis rate.
  • Mining, construction, agriculture and engineering sectors reported the lowest depression rates—6.7 to 9 percent—yet mining and construction experienced the highest suicide rates among U.S. workers.
  • Experts warn that stigma and limited rural access to care may underlie the suicide spike in blue-collar industries and are calling for targeted wellness initiatives tailored to each workforce segment.