An Usdaw survey has shown that one in four workers have taken time off work because of their poor mental state.

The survey forms part of the Union’s ‘Is worry tying you up in knots’ campaign which was launched in a bid to explore the pressures employees are under, both at home and in work.

The findings revealed that one in four have had to take time off work whilst suffering from worry, anxiety or depression. Half of these felt unable to tell their employers the real reason for their absence.

Speaking about the findings John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary, said: “Many people are feeling under pressure at work and at home; having to cope with changes to hours, rising food and fuel bills and changes to benefits. When times are tough people can feel anxious and worried, which can in turn affect their mental health.

“One in four survey respondents said they had needed some time off work for reasons relating to their mental health at some point in their working lives.  This is clearly a cause for concern, but of equal concern is that the majority of people needing time off because of stress, anxiety or depression don’t feel able to be open about it. When a person isn’t able to talk about what is really causing them problems at work, it is much harder to address and resolve those difficulties.

“There is clearly still a strong stigma around mental health and as a trade union we are committed to tackling that. We want to encourage workers who feel under pressure to talk to their union sooner rather than later. We can help by getting the advice and support they need to enable a return to work or to remain in work in the first place.

“Usdaw would like to work with employers to develop policies and procedures that will support staff who might be worried about their mental health. By working together we can make a real difference.” 

The survey was completed by 2,464 members across all sectors of the union in face-to-face conversations with reps and online.