Work Is The Number One Cause Of Stress, UK

Editor's Choice
Main Category: Anxiety / Stress
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;  Mental Health
Article Date: 20 Mar 2013 - 0:00 PDT


Work is the number one cause of stress in people's lives that can have a significant impact on their well-being.

The finding came from a survey of more than 2,000 individuals conducted by Mind, a UK charity, which showed that 34% of people consider their jobs very stressful, more so than health issues (17%) or money problems (30%).

Previous research indicated that stress from work increases the risk of heart attack by 23%. This study showed that workplace stress has caused 7% (increasing to 10% amongst 18 to 24 year olds) of those surveyed to have thoughts of suicide and one in 5 people (18%) to develop anxiety.

Stress commonly drives people to drink and/or drugs, because they think it will help them cope. According to the research, almost 3 in 5 people, or 57%, drink after work and one in 7 drinks during work to help him/her deal with stress and pressure.

Other ways people tried to cope with their stress included:

• smoking - 28%
• taking antidepressants - 15%
• taking over the counter sleeping pills -16%
• taking prescribed sleeping tablets - 10%

The authors said:

"The findings also show that a culture of fear and silence about stress and mental health problems is costly to employers."

Important Findings

One in 5 (19%) takes a sick day because of stress, however, 90% gave a different reason for their absence.

One in 10 (9%) has left a job because of stress and one in 4 (25%) has thought about quitting because of pressure at work.

One in 5 (19%) felt he/she couldn't tell the boss about the overwhelming stress.

Although 22% of the participants had been diagnosed with a mental health problem, only 10% actually informed their boss about it.

Fifty-six percent of managers said they would like to help improve the mental health of their staff but needed more training and/or advice on how to do so.

Forty-six percent of managers said that they would like to help more but it is not a prime concern in their company.

Work-related mental health issues are too significant to disregard

Chief Executive of Mind, Paul Farmer, said:



"Our research shows that employees are still experiencing high levels of stress at work, which is negatively impacting their physical and mental health.



We know that right now, one in six workers is experiencing depression, stress or anxiety and yet our survey tells us that most managers don't feel they have had enough training or guidance to support them."


Improving mental health at work does not have to be costly

Farmer explained that their research demonstrated that workers whose companies provided flexible working hours and allowed enough time off each year said that these measures supported their mental health.

Three in five people said that if their boss helped support the mental well-being of the whole staff they would feel more motivated, committed, loyal, and likely to recommend their company as a nice place to work.

Written by Sarah Glynn
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

• Additional
• References
• Citations