Feeling blue or depressed after the holidays may be more prevalent than you think. According to a National Institute of Mental Health Report, each year more than 19 million adult Americans over the age of 18 will suffer from an illness associated with depression. And, according to Bill Gaudette, national president of the Canadian Mental Health Association, even before the September terrorist attacks, one in four people experience an episode of major depression at some point in their lives. Some of these people have seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, and Gaudette believes that the enormity of recent tragic events may compound SAD.

So, as holiday joy gives way to holiday blues, employers need to find ways to help employees pick themselves up and get back on the right track. It is important to note, however, that if the depression lasts for more than a few days and interferes with an employee's ability to work, he or she should seek help from a mental health professional.

Here's how they can help:

Provide financial education: When December's bills hit January's paychecks, panic, stress and depression may set in. Especially this year, with many of us facing potential layoffs and an uncertain economy, financial worries may have an even greater impact. Employers can help employees gain control of their finances by providing a financial education program to assist them with questions regarding financial issues they face every day. By calling a toll-free number, employees can tap into the financial arm of the company's resource and referral program, enabling them to access information and resources that will help them with a full range of personal financial issues—including debt consolidation, refinancing, family budgeting and more. They get the information quickly and confidentially and the service is free to them, provided as an employee benefit.

Help employees keep their New Year's resolutions. Come January 1, we all vow to make changes: to stop smoking, exercise more, eat right or manage our stress levels. Too often, however, we abandon our resolutions within the first few days or weeks and then feel guilty. As employees vow to adopt more healthy lifestyles, employers should be taking an active role in helping them achieve that goal. They can subsidize smoking cessation programs, offer fitness and weight loss programs and counseling, provide stress management programs, etc.

Give a little “just for me:” As post-holiday blues set in, caring for oneself becomes of top importance. By giving employees what we call “just for me” benefits, you provide them with access to information they need to care for themselves. Through their company's resource and referral program, they can then find their own personal solutions for minimizing stress and bringing their lives back into balance.

For more information, please call Denise Markley, Vice President of Operations at Work/Life Benefits, at (714) 677-8686. On the web: www.wlb.com

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