Breaks ease stress says study

Breaks ease stress says study

A third of people would not discuss work-related stress

Having a break from work is the best way to deal with stress, according to a new survey by the Doctor Patient Partnership (DPP).

Almost a third of Scots said that a break, such as a bank holiday, was the best way to deal with the stress in the workplace.

The same number said they would not be likely to speak to anyone about their work-related stress.

More than 73% thought that work-related stress was a fact of life and almost half said that it was up to the individual to deal with it.

Work-related stress

The DPP released the study details as it launched a campaign to help people recognise and manage stress, especially work-related.

The "Dealing with Stress" campaign also aims to raise awareness amongst employers of the levels of work-related stress and what they can do to reduce it.

Dr Simon Fradd, chairman of the DPP said: "Stress is the second biggest cause of sickness absence days of employees in the UK.

"This has enormous impact for employees, employers and society as a whole.

Worrying at home

"The impact on primary care services is also considerable in terms of demand for appointments, not least for sickness certification."

"Employees need to feel they are able to approach their employer to talk about work-related stress."

Dr David Beaumont, occupational physician, defined work-related stress as being "the perception of a situation at work with which an individual feels unable to cope, and which they feel is outside their control".

He said the solutions usually lie within the workplace, rather than the GP surgery, and often going off sick and worrying at home makes matters worse.