More City High Flyers Seeking Help As Credit Crunch Bites, London, England

Main Category: Psychology / Psychiatry
Also Included In: Mental Health;  Anxiety / Stress;  Depression
Article Date: 10 Oct 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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The Priory Group has issued a list of top ten indicators for stressed City executives which should act as warning signs that professional help should be sought. As the global economy goes into meltdown, experts at the Priory Group are coping with escalating levels of depression and related conditions amongst staff in the financial sector, also leading to a rise in people seeking treatment for drink and drug abuse.

Priory hospitals across the country are reporting increasing numbers of professionals and City high flyers seeking help.

The credit crunch has wreaked havoc on some of the world's best known financial institutions in recent weeks. Lehman Brothers, HBOS, AIG and Bradford & Bingley are just some of the organisations facing major problems.

Only recently the City was in shock after the apparent suicide of a millionaire financier haunted by the pressures of dealing with the credit crunch. Kirk Stephenson is believed to have taken his own life after succumbing to mounting personal pressures as the world's financial markets went into meltdown.

Dr Richard Bowskill from The Priory Group explains: "What people sometimes forget is the human cost behind the headlines. The banks and other businesses suffering at the moment are household names but there are thousands and thousands of employees, pensioners and ordinary people for whom the knock-on effects are devastating.

"At times of financial uncertainty what we see is increased levels of anxiety disorders amongst City workers and often alcohol and cocaine misuse becomes a coping mechanism as the stress increases. Sleeplessness, intense anxiety and even suicidal thoughts are not uncommon symptoms."

Other indicators that can give an indication that professional help may be needed include:

1. Feeling miserable and sad.
2. Feeling exhausted a lot of the time with no energy.
3. Difficulty sleeping or waking up very early in the morning. Disturbing dreams.
4. Believing that even the smallest tasks are sometimes impossible.
5. No longer enjoying the things that you used to enjoy - you may be off sex or food or may 'comfort eat' to excess.
6. Feeling like a failure and/or feeling guilty a lot of the time.
7. Considering sometimes that life isn't worth living.
8. Irritation and anger.
9. Lack of confidence.
10. Feelings that life is unfair.

Dr Bowsill said: "Many younger people have not experienced difficult times before and this is a new experience for them. Fears of small bonus payouts, job loss and career shutdown are resulting in many bankers seeking medical help to assist them through these difficult times. And worse, some bankers could be prone to take their own lives, as their self-worth is so inextricably linked with the success and the financial rewards their profession so often brings."

The Priory Group