Work stress is biggest factor driving harassed Britons to drink, drugs and depression

A third of adults say their job is the most stressful part of their lives, according to a study carried out for Mind

57 per cent of adults admit to drinking after work and 14 per cent say they drinking DURING the day

Seven per cent of adults say they have suicidal thoughts because of work-related stress

By Emma Innes

Work, rather than money or health worries, is the biggest factor driving Britons to drink, drugs and depression, according to mental health experts. More than a third of adults say their job is the most stressful aspect of their lives today, causing many to take drastic measures to cope with the pressure, the report revealed. Six in ten people - 57 per cent – admit to hitting the bottle after a day's work, and one in seven even confess to drinking during the day itself, according to the survey of 2,000 adults for the mental health charity Mind.

More than a third of adults say their job is the most stressful aspect of their lives

The report also found that workplace stress led to seven per cent having suicidal thoughts. Even more worryingly, ten per cent of adults between 18 and 24 reported having suicidal thoughts because of workplace stress. While 34 per cent of people said work is the biggest cause of stress in their lives, 30 per cent say it is money, either because they are in debt or because they have other financial problems.

However, 17 per cent of those surveyed said health worries were causing them the most stress or anxiety, according to Mind.

Ways of coping with stress ranged from ten per cent of people using sleeping tablets to 15 per cent being on antidepressants and 28 per cent smoking. It is companies themselves who could lose out in the long run, said Mind, as 19 per cent of workers have thrown a sickie because they could not face going to work. About ten per cent of people have also resigned from a job because of stress, while 25 per cent admit they have thought about quitting, but have yet to do so. 

Six in ten people - 57 per cent - admit to hitting the bottle after a day's work, and one in seven - 14 per cent - even confess to drinking during the day

Workers rarely feel they can talk to their bosses about feeling stressed, even though most employers say they would like to do more to help improve the mental wellbeing of staff. Mind's chief executive, Paul Farmer, said: ‘Work related mental health problems are an issue too important for businesses to ignore. ‘Our research shows that employees are still experiencing high levels of stress at work, which is negatively impacting their physical and mental health. ‘We know that right now, one in six workers is experiencing depression, stress or anxiety and yet our survey tells us that most managers don't feel they have had enough training or guidance to support them. ‘Improving mental wellbeing in the workplace doesn't have to cost a lot. ‘People whose organisations offered flexible working hours and generous annual leave said such measures supported their mental wellbeing.’

Daily Mail