Depression takes toll on Chinese employees, survey shows

About 70 percent of Chinese workers diagnosed with depression have taken time off from work because of the illness, and more than half of the depressed employees reported impaired work performance, according to a new survey.

The survey, the first of its kind in the country, showed 53 percent of employers polled want stronger legislation and government policies to help employees with depression.

The China survey, titled Impact of Depression at Work, was conducted by Ipsos Healthcare UK with an educational grant from H. Lundbeck A/S. It was part of a worldwide survey involving 16 countries, including France, Italy, Mexico and Japan. It polled 1,000 Chinese people, both employers and employees, 16 to 64 years old.