You won't believe which jobs are the biggest downers for mental health
Image: Mikhail Nilov /pexels
We spend most of our waking hours at work, so it's no surprise that our jobs can shape our mental health in lasting ways.
The average person works about 90 000 hours in their lifetime. This estimate assumes a 40-hour work week from around age 22 to 65, with holidays and sick leave included.
But new findings published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" (JAMA) are shining a harsh spotlight on just how deep that connection runs, especially for men.
According to a sweeping analysis of more than 500 000 American workers between 2015 and 2019, some jobs come with a far greater emotional toll than others.
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Over 80 000 people in the study reported being diagnosed with depression in their lifetime, with workers in certain industries feeling the brunt of that burden.
And while women were twice as likely to report depression, the data around male-dominated professions may reveal something more hidden and more dangerous.
Employers need to customize support for their specific workforce, not just hand out one-size-fits-all solutions.
Image: Kaboompics.com/pexels
The jobs most linked to depression
80 319 respondents reported a lifetime diagnosis of depression-women at twice the rate of men (JAMA, 2025).
Highest depression rates: Community & social service.
Food preparation & serving.
Arts, entertainment.
Sports.
Media.
Health care.
Retail.
Education & library services.
On the flip side, construction and mining jobs showed the lowest rates of diagnosed depression. However, researchers caution that these numbers are misleading.
While fewer diagnoses are reported in these male-dominated fields, suicide rates among these workers are among the highest, according to the CDC, and have been rising since 2000.
So, what gives?
Experts suggest that many men in these sectors may suffer in silence due to stigma, toxic masculinity, or the lack of access to mental health resources in remote or rural work environments. 'Just because depression isn't diagnosed doesn't mean it's not there,' says Dr Manish Sapra, Executive Director of Northwell Health's Behavioral Health Service Line.
Speaking to "The New York Post", Sapra stressed the need for tailored mental health benefits that reflect the reality of each industry: 'Employers need to customise support for their specific workforce, not just hand out one-size-fits-all solutions.'
In other words, the wellness app your company offers may not cut it, especially if your employees are working 12-hour shifts in emotionally heavy or physically risky environments.
While depression tends to be underdiagnosed in men globally, South African research backs this up, too.
A study published in "The South African Journal of Psychiatry" notes that men are less likely to seek help for mental health issues due to cultural expectations and fear of appearing weak. This is especially relevant in fields like construction or mining, where 'toughness' is still glorified and vulnerability is taboo. When men do reach a breaking point, it can be too late.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) reports that men are more likely to die by suicide, despite women being more likely to attempt it, a heartbreaking testament to how male mental health struggles often go unnoticed and untreated.
If your job feels emotionally draining, you're not imagining it.
Image: Oladimeji Ajegbile/Pexels
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