It can make us feel better about ourselves and is a reminder that other people value us. For most people a steady and rewarding job can really help to reduce the risk of depression. We know that people who have recently been made redundant, or who have been out of work for many months, are more likely to become depressed than those who are able to carry on working. Work, therefore, has a largely beneficial impact on mental health, but there are circumstances in which it can be less helpful. Although there is little evidence that poor working conditions can directly cause depressive illness, undue pressure and stress at work can combine with other problems, such as difficulties at home or recent unhappy events, and contribute to the development of depression.
Work is generally good for our mental health.
However, there are times when it can be harmful. There is little evidence that poor working conditions can directly cause depressive illness. However, pressure and undue stress at work combined with other problems, such as difficulties at home can make depression more likely to occur. Many surveys have shown that certain kinds of work are more likely to make people unhappy in their workplace. Jobs in which an employee cannot use his or her skills, or which are repetitive, and are the same every day, seem particularly likely to make people fed up with their work.