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Having a job can help recovery from depression, according to the Depression Alliance.

Ensuring someone does not leave work because of the condition is also good for employers because they do not lose a member of staff, says Emer O'Neill, chief executive of Depression Alliance.

Support from employers can help people suffering from depression to stay in work, she adds, saying 'having people off through long-term sickness is not good for anybody'.

'Being able to talk about depression makes other people aware that it is a hard condition, and having support makes people less likely to relapse,' she claims.

Employers can help by creating an environment in which employees can talk about their condition in order to put in place 'safety nets', she adds.

According to the Mental Health Foundation, mixed anxiety and depression is the most common mental disorder in the UK and it is estimated that approximately 450 million people worldwide suffer from a mental health problem.