Your work may harm your mental health

A new study of more than 500,000 American workers reveals what they do based on where people work and what they live, revealing obvious differences in mental health outcomes.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open, suggests that your industry and career can seriously affect your risk of depression and psychological distress.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed data from 536,279 workers in 37 states between 2015 and 2019. They found that challenges about which jobs cause the greatest loss to mental health.

The hardest hit by the service industry workers

Workers in accommodation and food service face some of the highest rates of mental health struggle. One in five (18.4%) reported a lifetime diagnosis of depression – significantly higher than the average of all workers by 14.2%. These same employees also showed frequent increases in the rate of mental distress, which researchers called “extreme distress.”

Retail workers performed poorly, with a 15% higher depression rate than workers in public administration jobs. Healthcare support staff, catering service staff and sales staff all reported above-average levels of mental distress.

Not only does this mode feel blue occasionally. Workers in food preparation and service reported extreme distress – defined at a rate of 6.9% as mental health of 30 days a month, while all workers combined were 4.1%.

Surprising mining paradox

Here is where the story gets complicated: industries such as mining, construction and manufacturing show some reported lowest rates of depression diagnosis. For example, male miners reported only 5.7% of depression, while other industries were nearly 10%.

However, this obvious mental health advantage tells only part of the story. As researcher Aaron Sussell and his team noted in their analysis, these same industries (especially mining and construction) are the highest suicide rates in any occupation in the United States. Contradictions suggest that the predominantly male manual labor industry may face unique barriers to mental health care and diagnosis.

Researchers suggest that stigma surrounding mental health care and access to services in rural or remote work locations may prevent workers from seeking help, even if they are struggling.

Demography is more important than you think

The study shows that no matter the industry, there are huge differences among population groups. Women reported nearly twice the rate of depression as men (19.5% vs. 9.8%). Young workers aged 18-34 show a higher rate of measuring mental health problems, as do workers who have divorced, separated or never married.

Perhaps most convincing: workers without health insurance have significantly higher rates of frequent mental distress and extreme distress, but less frequently diagnosed with depression. This suggests that many uninsured workers may be working on undiagnosed and untreated mental health issues.

Creative and caring professionals face unique challenges

Some of the highest depression rates appear in careers, with the focus on helping others or expressing creatively. Community and social service workers topped the list with 20.5%, followed by workers in art, design, entertainment, sports and media. Healthcare support staff and personal care staff also showed higher rates.

Findings that coincide with previous research suggest that jobs that require highly emotional labor—caring for others, managing difficult social places, or performing for audiences—can cause specific psychological losses.

What does this mean for workers and employers

Research reinforces that the workplace is not only a neutral environment where people happen to spend time. Working conditions, stress levels, social dynamics and even industry culture seem to have a measurable impact on mental health.

For workers, the findings suggest that attention to mental health is not only personal, but may be partly professional. Industry and roles that exhibit higher distress rates may benefit from modifications to other mental health resources or workplaces.

For employers, data provides a business case for workplace mental health programs. The researchers found that workers with depression reported 3-5 times more mentally unhealthy monthly days than colleagues without depression in all demographic groups.

As Sussell and his colleagues concluded, more research is needed to understand exactly which workplace factors drive these differences. But the evidence is clear: where you work and your living work may be more relevant to your mental health than you have ever known.

This study, one of the largest workplace mental health analysis ever, provides a rare and comprehensive view of how different jobs affect mental health across the U.S. industry.

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