Don't Worry, Be Happy

Servants have highest rates of Depression

Apparently it is the people who have the the least rewarding jobs, the physically and psychologically most taxing jobs, and no access to health care and no money to access "pleasurable activities" who experience the highest rates of depression.


In the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the source for this report, a major depressive episode is defined as a period of two weeks or longer during which there is depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure and at least four other symptoms that reflect a change in functioning, such as problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration and self-image.

Could such symptoms be caused by working hard and not receiving enough money to eat, experience pleasure, groom oneself, have a safe place to sleep?

Samhsa, The National Alliance on Mental Illness, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and of course The Treatment Advocacy Center would have us believe that this depression is caused by a biological defect in the brains of us servants that makes us unhappy. After all, you'd have to be crazy to resent spending 10 hours a day flipping burgers for $5.15 an hour. Why at 40 hours, that's almost enough money to split a one bedroom apartment with four other people in most United States cities, almost enough money to buy half of one used shoe at a thrift shop, and more than enough money for bus fare and a pack of gum.

I don't think so.

But the big concern of this study is this: "Depression exacts a high price from workers and from their employers, costing the U.S. workplace an estimated $36.6 billion per year in lost productivity," said SAMHSA Administrator Terry Cline, Ph.D.

Woah there buddy, wait up. Is someone suggesting that fast food restaurants, hotels and motels are not making enough money?

Gee they're making money hand over fist. This epidemic of depression must not be hurting them all that much.

Fast Food Profits are increasing - for the owners of the fast food industry that is, and maybe that's why they're not depressed:

Service Sector Profits are increasing - again for the owners, not the workers, so the owners are pretty happy (okay Paris Hilton didn't seem all that happy in jail, but unlike a worker at her family's hotel chain, she had high dollar lawyers and was released quickly). I wonder what happens to average minimum wage worker at the Hilton when he or she gets a DUI? I guess the good news is, most of these workers can't afford alcohol much less a car so they don't really get that many DUI's. So how about this headline: Depressed Servants don't Drive Drunk

But still we've got Samhsa, The National Alliance on Mental Illness, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and of course The Treatment Advocacy Center suggesting it's these untreated depressed workers harming the American Economy.

Here's a solution to the problem. Fast Food Restaurant owners, Service Industry Corp owners, all of you give your workers a 4 dollar raise across the board and you'll save money because the amount of depression and hence the amount of lost productivity will decrease.