Introduction:

Researches concerning the theme of depression among commerce workers are justified by several reasons, but are still scarce. The present study aimed to understand the collective imaginary of a commerce workers’ group about depression.

Method:

Qualitative study based on the psychoanalytic investigative method, in which the participants were nine commerce workers from two stores of a retail chain in a small-sized city. The instrument was a group interview guided by the Drawings-Stories with Theme Procedure. The corpus of analysis was submitted to fluctuating readings aimed at formulating interpretations about their non-conscious senses.

Results:

It was verified that, according to the participants’ collective imaginary, depression would severely affect functionality in the work context, but the labor environment would not represent a possible trigger for the frustrations and for the feeling of loneliness that, for most of them, would cause depression.

Discussions:

The existential positions identified may lead to silencing in the face of work-related psychological suffering.

Conclusions:

Results can be used in the planning of mental health actions.

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