Depression: an obstacle to learning LO11384

ingram_b@ix.netcom.com
Wed, 11 Dec 1996 21:56:22 -0800

Replying to LO11358 --

Arthur Battam writes:

> My crude view is that stress is a result of bad
> management more than it is caused by external factors [like the usual
> 'pace of change', 'realities of the marketplace', blah blah] but I'm open
> to more complex viewpoints if anyone wants to offer them. I'm just
> concerned that we don't end up giving people aspirin when maybe we should
> stop other people hitting them on the head.

Though I do not totally agree, I think there is much truth to the
assumption that bad management leads to stress and even clinical
depression. (As I may have mentioned before, we should be very clear that
stress and depression are not the same thing, and the difference is much
more than a matter of degree.) Nevertheless, many, though not all, of the
workers with clinical depression that I saw at the last company where I
worked had very bad managers whose behavior contributed to the worker's
depression.

> Re: 'stress in local authorities'...
> What resources are there to support this research/action project?
> Any relevant experiences out there to share?
> Where should we start?
> What should we avoid doing?
> etcetera...

There are several pages of recommendations in my booklet, which I
mentioned earlier, but I would like to suggest a somewhat unorthodox
activity at this point. At the following web address you can find a list
of the "Best Things To Say to Someone Who Is Depressed."

http://www.blarg.net/~charlatn/depression/Best.things.html

Then, at this next address you can find a list of the "Worst Things To
Say to Someone Who Is Depressed."

http://www.blarg.net/~charlatn/depression/worst.things.html

I am wondering if we might be able to extrapolate from these lists some
ideas for organizations--i.e., the best and worst things to "say" or do to
an organization that is "depressed." Anyone care to play along?

Robert Ingram
Ingram Communications
33717 Second Street
Union City, CA 94587
(510) 475-7239

-- 


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