1 10 Careers With High Rates of
Depression
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COPYRIGHT © 2016 HEALTH MEDIA VENTURES,
INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
THE MATERIAL IN THIS SITE IS INTENDED TO BE
OF GENERAL INFORMATIONAL USE AND IS NOT
INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE MEDICAL ADVICE,
PROBABLE DIAGNOSIS, OR RECOMMENDED
TREATMENTS.
SEE THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY
POLICY (YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS)
FOR MORE INFORMATION. AD CHOICES
Photo: Getty Images
Jobs and depression
Some jobs are more depression-prone than others.
Here are 10 fields (out of 21 major job categories)
in which full-time workers are most likely to report
an episode of major depression in a given year. But
if you want to be a nurse (No. 4), it doesn’t mean
you should pick another profession.
“There are certain aspects of any job that can
contribute to or exacerbate depression,” says
Deborah Legge, PhD, a licensed mental health
counselor in Buffalo. "Folks with the high-stress
jobs have a greater chance of managing it if they
take care of themselves and get the help they
need.”
Photo: Getty Images
Nursing home/child-care workers
Personal-care providers top the list, with nearly
11% of people in this field reporting a bout of
major depression. (The rate is 13% in the
unemployed; 7% in the general population.)
A typical day can include feeding, bathing, and
caring for others who are “often incapable of
expressing gratitude or appreciation…because they
are too ill or too young or they just aren’t in the
habit of it,” says Christopher Willard, clinical
psychologist at Tufts University and author of
Child’s Mind.
“It is stressful, seeing people sick and not getting a
lot of positive reinforcement.”
Photo: Getty Images
Food service staff
Ranking just below professional-care workers are
the people who are serving the food at your
favorite local digs. Wait staff often get low pay and
can have exhausting jobs with numerous people
telling them what to do each day.
While 10% of workers in general reported an
episode of major depression in the past year,
almost 15% of women in this field did so.
“This is often a very thankless job,” Legge says.
“People can be really rude and there is a lot of
physical exertion. When people are depressed, it is
hard to have energy and motivation—when you
have to be on, it is difficult.”
Photo: Getty Images
Social workers
It’s probably not a huge surprise to find social
workers near the top of this list. Dealing with
abused children or families on the brink of every
imaginable crisis—combined with bureaucratic red
tape—can make for a demanding, stressful job
that’s often 24-7.
“There can be a culture that says that to do a good
job, you have to work really hard and often make
sacrifices,” Willard says.
“Because social workers work with people who are
so needy, it can be hard to not sacrifice too much
to the job. I see that happen a lot with social
workers and other caring professions, and they get
really burned out pretty quickly.”
Photo: Getty Images
Health-care workers
This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, and other
professions that attract people who might end up
giving a lot without saving a little for themselves.
Health-care workers can have long, irregular hours
and days in which other people’s lives are literally
in their hands.
In other words, the stress can be off the charts.
“Every day they are seeing sickness, trauma, and
death and dealing with family members of
patients,” Willard says. “It can shade one’s outlook
on the whole that the world is a sadder place.”
Photo: Getty Images
Artists, entertainers, writers
These jobs can bring irregular paychecks, uncertain
hours, and isolation.
Creative people may also have higher rates of mood
disorders; about 9% reported an episode of major
depression in the previous year.
In men, it’s the job category most likely to be
associated with an episode of major depression
(nearly 7% in full-time workers).
“One thing I see a lot in entertainers and artists is
bipolar illness,” says Legge. “There could be
undiagnosed or untreated mood disorders in people
who are artistic…. Depression is not uncommon to
those who are drawn to work in the arts, and then
the lifestyle contributes to it.”
Photo: Getty Images
Teachers
The demands on teachers seem to be constantly
growing. Many work after school and then take
work home.
In many areas, they learn to do a lot with a little.
“There are pressures from many different
audiences—the kids, their parents, and the schools
trying to meet standards, all (of which) have
different demands,” Willard says. “This can make it
difficult for teachers to do their thing and
remember the reason they got started in the field.”
Photo: Getty Images
Administrative support staff
People in this field can suffer from a classic case of
high demand, low control.
They are on the front line, taking orders from all
directions. But they are also at the bottom of the
totem pole in terms of control and “everything
filters down,” according to Legge.
They can have unpredictable days and may not be
acknowledged for all of the work that they do to
make life easier for everyone else.
Photo: Getty Images
Maintenance and grounds workers
How would you like to be called on only when
something goes wrong? That’s essentially what
maintenance people deal with each day.
They also have to work odd hours, seasonal or
varied schedules, and frequent night shifts. They
are often paid little for a tough job that can include
cleaning up other people’s messes.
“There is also higher turnover. In terms of co-
workers, they are often isolated, and it can be
dangerous work,” Willard says.
Photo: Getty Images
Financial advisors and accountants
Stress. Stress. Stress. Most people don’t like dealing
with their own retirement savings. So can you
imagine handling thousands or millions of dollars
for other people?
“There is so much responsibility for other people’s
finances and no control of the market,” Legge says.
“There is guilt involved, and when (clients) are
losing money, they probably have people screaming
at them with regularity.”
Photo: Getty Images
Salespeople
People who work in sales are No. 10 on the list,
though there are a whole host of reasons why the
job could contribute to depression.
Many salespeople work on commission, meaning
you never know exactly when your next paycheck
is coming. They may travel, and have to spend time
away from home, family, and friends.
If they work independently, benefits may also be
limited.
“This uncertainty of income, tremendous pressure
for results, and long hours” can make for a high-
promoted stories
trending
COPYRIGHT © 2016 HEALTH MEDIA VENTURES,
INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
THE MATERIAL IN THIS SITE IS INTENDED TO BE
OF GENERAL INFORMATIONAL USE AND IS NOT
INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE MEDICAL ADVICE,
PROBABLE DIAGNOSIS, OR RECOMMENDED
TREATMENTS.
SEE THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY
POLICY (YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS)
FOR MORE INFORMATION. AD CHOICES
Photo: Getty Images
Jobs and depression
Some jobs are more depression-prone than others.
Here are 10 fields (out of 21 major job categories)
in which full-time workers are most likely to report
an episode of major depression in a given year. But
if you want to be a nurse (No. 4), it doesn’t mean
you should pick another profession.
“There are certain aspects of any job that can
contribute to or exacerbate depression,” says
Deborah Legge, PhD, a licensed mental health
counselor in Buffalo. "Folks with the high-stress
jobs have a greater chance of managing it if they
take care of themselves and get the help they
need.”
Photo: Getty Images
Nursing home/child-care workers
Personal-care providers top the list, with nearly
11% of people in this field reporting a bout of
major depression. (The rate is 13% in the
unemployed; 7% in the general population.)
A typical day can include feeding, bathing, and
caring for others who are “often incapable of
expressing gratitude or appreciation…because they
are too ill or too young or they just aren’t in the
habit of it,” says Christopher Willard, clinical
psychologist at Tufts University and author of
Child’s Mind.
“It is stressful, seeing people sick and not getting a
lot of positive reinforcement.”
Photo: Getty Images
Food service staff
Ranking just below professional-care workers are
the people who are serving the food at your
favorite local digs. Wait staff often get low pay and
can have exhausting jobs with numerous people
telling them what to do each day.
While 10% of workers in general reported an
episode of major depression in the past year,
almost 15% of women in this field did so.
“This is often a very thankless job,” Legge says.
“People can be really rude and there is a lot of
physical exertion. When people are depressed, it is
hard to have energy and motivation—when you
have to be on, it is difficult.”
Photo: Getty Images
Social workers
It’s probably not a huge surprise to find social
workers near the top of this list. Dealing with
abused children or families on the brink of every
imaginable crisis—combined with bureaucratic red
tape—can make for a demanding, stressful job
that’s often 24-7.
“There can be a culture that says that to do a good
job, you have to work really hard and often make
sacrifices,” Willard says.
“Because social workers work with people who are
so needy, it can be hard to not sacrifice too much
to the job. I see that happen a lot with social
workers and other caring professions, and they get
really burned out pretty quickly.”
Photo: Getty Images
Health-care workers
This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, and other
professions that attract people who might end up
giving a lot without saving a little for themselves.
Health-care workers can have long, irregular hours
and days in which other people’s lives are literally
in their hands.
In other words, the stress can be off the charts.
“Every day they are seeing sickness, trauma, and
death and dealing with family members of
patients,” Willard says. “It can shade one’s outlook
on the whole that the world is a sadder place.”
Photo: Getty Images
Artists, entertainers, writers
These jobs can bring irregular paychecks, uncertain
hours, and isolation.
Creative people may also have higher rates of mood
disorders; about 9% reported an episode of major
depression in the previous year.
In men, it’s the job category most likely to be
associated with an episode of major depression
(nearly 7% in full-time workers).
“One thing I see a lot in entertainers and artists is
bipolar illness,” says Legge. “There could be
undiagnosed or untreated mood disorders in people
who are artistic…. Depression is not uncommon to
those who are drawn to work in the arts, and then
the lifestyle contributes to it.”
Photo: Getty Images
Teachers
The demands on teachers seem to be constantly
growing. Many work after school and then take
work home.
In many areas, they learn to do a lot with a little.
“There are pressures from many different
audiences—the kids, their parents, and the schools
trying to meet standards, all (of which) have
different demands,” Willard says. “This can make it
difficult for teachers to do their thing and
remember the reason they got started in the field.”
Photo: Getty Images
Administrative support staff
People in this field can suffer from a classic case of
high demand, low control.
They are on the front line, taking orders from all
directions. But they are also at the bottom of the
totem pole in terms of control and “everything
filters down,” according to Legge.
They can have unpredictable days and may not be
acknowledged for all of the work that they do to
make life easier for everyone else.
Maintenance and grounds workers
How would you like to be called on only when
something goes wrong? That’s essentially what
maintenance people deal with each day.
They also have to work odd hours, seasonal or
varied schedules, and frequent night shifts. They
are often paid little for a tough job that can include
cleaning up other people’s messes.
“There is also higher turnover. In terms of co-
workers, they are often isolated, and it can be
dangerous work,” Willard says.
Photo: Getty Images
Financial advisors and accountants
Stress. Stress. Stress. Most people don’t like dealing
with their own retirement savings. So can you
imagine handling thousands or millions of dollars
for other people?
“There is so much responsibility for other people’s
finances and no control of the market,” Legge says.
“There is guilt involved, and when (clients) are
losing money, they probably have people screaming
at them with regularity.”
Photo: Getty Images
Salespeople
People who work in sales are No. 10 on the list,
though there are a whole host of reasons why the
job could contribute to depression.
Many salespeople work on commission, meaning
you never know exactly when your next paycheck
is coming. They may travel, and have to spend time
away from home, family, and friends.
If they work independently, benefits may also be
limited.
“This uncertainty of income, tremendous pressure
for results, and long hours” can make for a high-
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