About AS@W
Antidepressant Skills at Work: Dealing with Mood Problems in the Workplace (Dan Bilsker, PhD, RPsych, Merv Gilbert, PhD, RPsych, & Joti Samra, PhD, RPsych) is a self-care manual authored by scientist-practitioners with expertise in issues relating to workplace mental health and addiction.
Antidepressant Skills at Work is an adaptation of the Antidepressant Skills Workbook (2005), authored by Dr. Dan Bilsker and Dr. Randy Paterson.
It was developed in consultation with a range of stakeholders concerned with depression in the workplace, including workers who have experienced mood problems, employers, union representatives, physicians, occupational health professionals, disability management personnel, and employee and family assistance providers.
The manual was developed by BC Mental Health & Addiction Services (BCMHAS), an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), British Columbia, Canada in partnership with the Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA), Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University.
It is part of an integrated, comprehensive PHSA Workplace Mental Health and Addiction strategy to improve employee and organizational health, and to support employers in creating healthier workplaces. The PHSA workplace strategy consists of organizational, primary, secondary and tertiary prevention activities. This manual is intended to assist employees experiencing low mood or depression, and is based on evidence-based principles and practices relating to depression and chronic disease management. It is intended to provide accurate information about depression and is not a replacement for treatment where needed.
The Antidepressant Skills at Work Manual
is intended for
- Working people with low mood, who may be at risk for developing depression.
- Working people who have developed a mild or major depression.
- Individuals who have been off work for a period of time.
- Partners, family members, friends or workplace colleagues who want to help.
- Employers, supervisors or managers concerned about their staff.
- Treatment providers who would like a tool to use as an adjunct to their clinical treatment.
focuses on ways to
- Deal with workplace problems so they are less likely to cause depressed mood or lead to depression.
- Reduce the effects of depression and depressed mood on work satisfaction and performance.
includes
- A description of depression, possible causes and options for treatment.
- Three practical skills, based on scientific evidence, for dealing with depressed mood. Skills are presented in a step-by-step format.
- Stories that show how working people might use these skills.
- An overview of workplace issues that arise for people dealing with depression and depressed mood.
The Antidepressant Skills described in the Manual are...
- Solving Problems Effectively
- Realistic Thinking
- Reactivating Your Life
Other topics covered in Antidepressant Skills at Work
- Preventing Relapse
- Making Decisions about Depression
Causes of Low Mood and Depression
