Health Issue: For Anxiety

Anxiety over finances likely

to influence mental health

London: Many workers have sought medical advice for stress and anxiety following the recession, says a UK survey, The survey of 2,050 workers found that the post recession period has seen an increase in stress levels and mental health deterioration due to work pressures and job security worries.

          Seven percent said they were prescribed medicines to help them cope. Many have had overtime cut, worked longer hours, or worried about job security. MIND believes mental health issues will soon become the biggest cause of work-related absence.

         Nine per cent had been to their GP as a direct result of pressure related to the financial squeeze, and 7% were prescribed medicines like antidepressants to help them cope. One in five said work stress had made them physically ill, and one in four had been reduced to tears at work because of unmanageable pressure. Carlence Brown found herself under pressure to work hours of overtime every week in her sales job in Birmingham.