Report reveals scale of mental ill health at work

A report has revealed that mental ill health is the second largest cause of time lost due to sickness absence in UK organizations.

According to the report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, stress, depression, and anxiety account for over 50% of these mental health problems.

The findings, taken from 30,000 real absence records, found that the number one cause of time lost due to sickness absence is musculoskeletal conditions. However it is the evidence on mental ill health which the government will find particularly worrying in view of the huge increase in the proportion of people claiming incapacity benefit over the last ten years who have mental health problems.

The findings highlighted the huge impact mental health problems have on the workplace with employees taking on average 21 days for each mental health related sickness absence spell.

A CIPD spokesperson said: "This research shows how important it is for managers and HR practitioners to be aware of the signs of mental ill health so that they can take action early and provide support before the individual's condition deteriorates to the point they go off on long-term sick leave."

The report called on the government to play a role in finding ways to help encourage more employers to provide their staff with access to cost effective occupational health services.

(SP/KMcA)