The University of British Columbia

Purpose

Depression costs the Canadian economy over $30 billion annually in reduced workplace productivity (Conference Board of Canada, 2016); the annual costs to the average British Columbian company with 500 employees is $1.4 million (BC Business and Economic Roundtable on Mental Health, 2007). While absenteeism (defined as employees taking time off work due to their symptoms) is certainly a contributor to this economic burden, the costs of presenteeism (defined as employees being physically present but less productive due to their symptoms) are even more substantial (Evans-Lacko & Knapp, 2016). Thus, individuals with depression require support both to return to work and to facilitate their functional recovery while there.