Depression Alliance Depression Alliance

ONE THIRD OF people struggle to cope in work due to depression or stress, a new report has revealed.

If these issues are not addressed, 83 per cent of workers will experience feelings of isolation or loneliness.

The resulting time off due to depression is costing “European employers an estimated £77 billion (€94 billion) a year”.

In an omnibus of reports published today by UK charities Depression Alliance and Target Depression, 1,200 adults were surveyed across the United Kingdom.

These findings have prompted calls for workplaces to be better equipped to support employees facing these difficulties.

“Depression is the biggest mental health challenge among working-age people and often leads to considerable loneliness and isolation at work,” Chief Executive of Depression Alliance, Emer O’Neill said.

Many companies aren’t properly equipped to manage employees who suffer from depression so providing support to these individuals in the workplace is essential.

Depression Alliance has launched a system of support groups known as Friends In Need to combat this, and will be implemented to in some areas of the UK civil service.

A recent survey from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work revealed that 51 per cent of workers believe stress is common in the work place, prompting a new campaign to help businesses to reduce stress and to instruct them on how to treat it as an occupational health and safety issue.

Data from Ireland revealed that we have some of the least stressful workplaces in Europe.

Helplines:

• Samaritans 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

• Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634

• Console 1800 201 890

• Aware 1890 303 302

• Pieta House 01 601 0000 or email mary@pieta.ie

• Childline 1800 66 66 66

Read: The EU wants you to be less stressed at work >