Managers' and Practitioners' Experiences of Depression: A unifying phenomenon?

Abstract

This article reports the findings of a survey of social work professionals, both managers and practitioners, who reported their experiences of depression and the workplace response. The study identified a high degree of commonality in the accounts of practitioners and managers and some indication that managers have particular difficulties in eliciting a flexible response from their employers. A performance-orientated culture places particular demands on managers to reduce ‘poor performance’. Managers need to be aware of how depression can affect performance and the crucial role of the workplace in responding to this phenomenon.