Dealing with depression can be taxing and it can feel lonely. However, people suffering from depression should know that they are not alone. In fact, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America over 16 million Americans struggle with depression.

The majority of these Americans are in their prime working years, and depression can interfere with one’s ability to work. In some cases, conditions at work can themselves contribute to clinical depression.

Workplace stress can contribute to anxiety and depression. While these symptoms are present during the workday, it is clear that workplace depression is setting in when these symptoms persist outside of work and interfere with other areas of a person’s life. If this mental health issue goes untreated, it can become debilitating.

It is important to take the time to treat work-related depression and talk to employers about the resources they have available. In some cases, workers may be able to collect workers’ compensation benefits while they work on their recovery.

Workers’ compensation is designed to help workers cope with medical costs and lost wages after they have been injured at work, or suffered from work-related illness. For example, the benefits can help a worker who developed an illness due to exposure to toxic chemicals in the workplace. Similarly, a person who developed depression due to something in the workplace can sometimes successfully claim workers’ compensation benefits for treatment. However, it’s important to note that it may be difficult for the worker to prove that the legal and medical cause of their depression lies in the workplace, and not in some other issue.

Workers’ compensation benefits can be crucial for people who are temporarily unable to work due to injury or illness. A workers’ compensation attorney can help workers understand their rights, assist them with the application process and argue on their behalf at hearings.