A study into the mental health of workers across Europe reveals that one in ten employees has taken time off work to deal with depression.

The study, commissioned by the European Depression Association and conducted by Ipsos MORI in September, polled more than 7,000 employees in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Denmark and the UK.

It found that affected workers take an average of 36 days off per depressive episode, but while nearly three-quarters of all employees told their employers the reason why they were taking time off (usually because they had been signed off by a doctor), 25 per cent did not.

Of those respondents, 30 per cent said they decided to keep their battle with depression secret because the current economic climate made it too risky to do otherwise.

The survey also revealed that of the countries polled, British workers were worst affected with 26 per cent of respondents having received a diagnosis of depression at some point in their working life, compared with only 12 per cent of Italians.

The data was presented in the IDEA survey (Impact of Depression in the Workplace in Europe Audit), published to coincide with European Depression Day on 1 October and just days before World Mental Health Day on 10 October.

Over 350 million people globally suffer from depression, but many fail to seek treatment due to the stigma attached to the condition.

However, treating depression isn’t just important for ethical reasons; as workplace stress affects productivity, it also has economic implications.

A recent study by Mental Health America found that the cost of untreated depression exceeds $51 billion when you take work absenteeism and lost productivity into account.

Previous studies have also shown that in countries which implemented austerity measures, suicide rates are soaring.

According to a team of public health experts based in the UK, who have studied European health statistics since the global financial crisis started, between 2007 and 2009 suicide rates had increased by 13 per cent.

Dr Vincenzo Costigliola, president of the European Depression Association, said: “The results of the IDEA survey show that much needs to be done in raising awareness and supporting employees and employers in recognising and managing depression in the workplace.”

British MEP Stephen Hughes, who held a roundtable discussion on Depression in the Workplace back in June, is hoping to secure binding EU legislation on depression in the workplace.

“Depression in the workplace is an employment and societal challenge that is causing serious damage and which requires attention and action from the European Union,” he said.

“The inclusion of depression in the workplace in the new European Commission Strategy for Health and Safety at Work, backed up in the coming two years with legislative action, would represent excellent progress towards protecting Europe’s workers more effectively and ultimately contributing to economic and social prosperity.”