VECCI will this week be hosting a discussion on managing depression in the workplace.

 

The VECCI Business Leaders’ Luncheon on Thursday 10 August 2006 will have as its keynote speaker The Hon. Jeff Kennett, Chairman of beyondblue: the national depression initiative.

 

He will be talking about beyondblue’s programs, the importance of raising awareness of depression, reducing the associated stigma and the impact the illness can have on companies.

 

Mr Kennett will be joined by Dr Nicole Highet, Deputy CEO of beyondblue, who will highlight the personal and financial costs of depression to organisations and outline how they can take a proactive approach to addressing depression in their workplaces.

 

beyondblue has developed, evaluated and extensively implemented a Depression in the Workplace program to over 18,000 employees across the public and private sector.

 

Mr Kennett indicated that depression is a major and often hidden cost to businesses. The cost of lost productivity in Victoria due to employees with untreated depression is estimated at $1.14 billion.

 

Mr Kennett said: “For an organisation of 1,000 staff, this equates to approximately $650,000 per annum in lost productivity.”

 

VECCI Chief Executive Officer, Mr Neil Coulson welcomed the discussion of depression in the workplace, indicating that it is an issue where business can understand and assist.

 

“While depression is an individual issue with many and varied causes, businesses can take positive measures to assist employees with this illness - as such we will be working with beyondblue to deliver a series of briefings to help business assist employees with depression”, says Mr Coulson.

 

For more information on depression, available treatments, where to get help and the Depression in the Workplace Program go to http://www.beyondblue.org.au/ or phone the beyondblue information line 1300 22 4636.

 

VECCI Business Leaders’ Luncheon – 12.00pm – 2.00pm on Thursday 10 August 2006 at VECCI head office, 486 Albert St, East Melbourne, media to RSVP to Chris James on telephone (03) 8662-5226.