"AnAustralian worker with untreated depression costs his or her employeralmost $10,000 a year in lost revenue, a business conference has beentold.
The national depression initiative, beyondblue, said recentresearch revealed each employee who secretly or unknowingly sufferedthe mental illness cost $9,660 in sick days and poor productivity."
    - Sydney Morning Herald

Thisfrom an article in today's Sydney Morning Herald.  Stateside,however, the effects of depression on worker productivity and overallcompany morale have been thoroughly documented.  A conservativeestimate recently put the cost of lost work time and productivity dueto depression at over $30 billion nationwide.  Between 50%-70% ofvisits to primary care physicians have significant relation topsychological factors, while over 80% of industrial accidents arerelated directly to untreated stress.
As health care costs rise,corporations would be wise to take heed and keep in mind that providingcoverage does not simply mean physical health.  Indeed, athree-year study of a major corporation found that 60% of employeeabsences were due to psychological problems.  A proactive approachto mental health can pay dividends in morale as well as productiveness,and that can only cut expenditures and increase overall profits.