Workers 'need mental health help'

One in four people suffer mental health problems each year

Employers should do more to help support workers who are suffering from mental health problems, a study says.

The British Occupational Health Research Foundation said counselling could help staff to stay in work.

One in four people in the UK develop mental health problems each year, costing the economy £11.6bn in lost working days.

Unions said the report was welcome as employers' were doing "very little" to help staff with mental health problems.

The report, carried out by the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health on behalf of the research charity, said employers should develop policies to help workers with mental health problems, such as depression, panic attacks and stress.

Most employers are doing very little in this area Hugh Robertson, of the Trades Union Congress

It said supervisors should be contacting employees off work with mental health problems at least once every two weeks, and early interventions should be used as much as possible.

And it said cognitive behavioural therapy, a form of psychotherapy counselling which deals with the way people think about their problems as well as focusing on behaviour, was particularly effective.

Researchers said eight-week courses could make the difference in helping people to stay at work.

Problems

The UK is one of the few countries in Europe which does not have a law requiring employers to have an occupational health policy in place.

Report author Bob Grove said: "Too many people lose their jobs when they experience mental health problems.

"This review shows that employers can do much to prevent that happening and to reduce sickness rates among their staff.

"Creating a mentally healthy workplace is as important an investment as any form of staff training or development. It will pay for itself."

And Brian Kazer, director of the British Occupational Health Research Foundation, said: "The cost of lost work among people with mental health problems is immense."

Hugh Robertson, head of health and safety at the Trades Union Congress, said: "Most employers are doing very little in this area. They don't know what to do if someone is off work, whether to contact them or not, so often they don't.

"This report is very welcome."