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Stress again linked to the recession

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Stress again linked to the recession

Work pressures during the recession have caused a big rise in mental health problems, a mental health charity has said. A survey for Mind suggests that one in 11 British workers has been to their GP for stress and anxiety arising the financial squeeze. And 7 per cent said they were prescribed medicines to help them cope. Mind's survey of 2,050 workers found that about a third were working harder and nearly half worried about the security of their jobs because of the recession. Nine per cent had been to their GP as a direct result of pressure related to the financial squeeze, and 7 per cent were prescribed medicines like anti-depressants to help them cope. One in five said work stress had made them physically ill, and one in four had been reduced to tears at work because of unmanageable pressure. The charity found there was a worsening stress crisis at work. The numbers of people reporting having left a job due to stress rose from 6 per cent in 2004 to 8 per cent in 2009 and those who say they lack support from their managers increased from 8 per cent to 11 per cent. Mind is calling on companies to improve the atmosphere in workplaces and show more understanding about mental health problems. 'Working conditions have been incredibly tough for the last couple of years,' said Mind's chief executive, Paul Farmer. 'It's more important than ever that businesses look at how they can manage stress levels and improve the working environment for all their employees.' Over the next five years Mind's 'Taking care of business' campaign, which has the backing of the TUC and some major UK companies, aims to improve working environments and working lives.

Mind news release and Taking care of business campaign. BBC News Online. The Independent. The Observer.

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