Top Jobs That Are Prone to Depression

A recent article on Health.com reports that some jobs are more likely to cause depression than others. They listed 10 fields out of 21 major job categories in which full-time workers might experience a depressive episode.

But all is not lost for those who might be interested in one of these fields. In the article, Deborah Legge, PhD, a licensed mental health counselor in Buffalo, is quoted as saying, “There are certain aspects of any job that can contribute to or exacerbate depression.” She continued, “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.”

So what are those jobs that are more prone to high rates of depression?

Nursing home/child-care workers: Nearly 11% of personal-care providers report bouts of major depression. They often take care of others who may be too ill or not capable of showing appreciation.

Food service staff: Wait staff often get low pay and have physically exhausting jobs. Women in this field are more likely to experience a major depressive episode.

Social workers: Social workers experience stress from dealing with abused children and families in crisis. They often make sacrifices for their work and burn out quickly.

Health-care workers: Doctors, nurses, and therapists can have long, irregular hours. They see sickness, trauma, and death daily.

Artists, entertainers, writers: These types of jobs can bring irregular paychecks, uncertain hours, and isolation. Creative people often have higher rates of mood disorders.

Teachers: In many areas, teachers must do a lot with a little. Many work after school and also take work home with them.

Administrative support staff: In these types of positions, people may take orders from all directions. Their work may be in high demand, but they have little control over it.

Maintenance grounds workers: Maintenance workers are only called when something goes wrong. They are often paid little for a tough job with varied schedules and frequent night shifts.

Financial advisors and accountants: In these types of jobs, people are responsible for other people’s finances, but have no control over the market. They can experience guilt when a client loses money.

Salespeople: Many salespeople work on commission, so their paycheck’s can fluctuate. Their benefits can be limited and they may need to work longer hours to increase their sales and their income.