Research on the Tufts Be Well at Work Program for Employees With Depression: 2005-2020

Although depression is a prevalent and costly health problem exacting a large toll on work productivity, interventions targeting occupational functioning are rare. This article describes the development of the Tufts Be Well at Work intervention, a brief telephonic program designed to improve occupational functioning among employees with depression and reduce depression symptom severity. Results from 15 years of research are summarized evaluating the occupational, clinical, and economic impact of Be Well at Work.

The design, methods, and results of all six Tufts Be Well at Work studies are reported. Studies included an initial workplace pilot study, two workplace randomized clinical trials (RCTs), one RCT in a health care system, and two pilot implementation studies conducted in a workplace and in an academic medical center. RCTs compared Tufts Be Well at Work to usual care.

Tufts Be Well at Work consistently and significantly improved occupational functioning, work productivity, and depression symptom severity. Employees randomly assigned to usual care experienced smaller gains. The program also delivered a positive return on investment.

Evidence suggests that Tufts Be Well at Work is an effective intervention for improving occupational and clinical functioning. Its relatively low cost and its impact on work productivity contribute to its positive economic impact.