The Work Outcomes Research Cost-benefit project

Proactive screening and identification of full time employees with untreated symptoms of depression and provision of either a single or multiple telephone contacts to increase engagement in treatment. Recruitment of full-time emp0lyee particpants occurred between October 2004 and March 2006. Data collection continued to October 2007. Participants in the multiple contact condition received an average of 8.7 telephone contacts in addition to the single contact. However, the number of contacts was allowed to vary on the basis of clinical judgment of severity of symptoms and need. These contacts focused on addressing the participant's barriers to treatment. Once the participant indicated that they had seen a health professional specifically for their emotional/psychological symptoms, the focus of the contacts shifted to monitoring progress and addressing concerns the person might have with their progress in treatment. Depression is often characterised by cognitions of hopelessness and helplessness; cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in addition to motivational interviewing strategies were used by the psychologists to address these issues. People who could not access in person services or who refused in person treatment were offered telephone CBT to assist with their depressive symptoms.