Better to manage root causes of workplace stress

Stress and mental health at work are significant issues in most industries; the latest statistics in the UK suggest work-related stress is on the increase. HR Magazine reports that in the past year 595 000 workers across Britain reported experiencing work-related stress, anxiety or depression and the total number of working days lost because of this condition was 15.4m days, accounting for 57% of all working days lost because of ill health. Even conservative estimates put the total loss to the British economy at more than £5bn per year. There is a growing industry of ‘wellbeing strategies’ that focus on training for managing resilience, mental health and mindfulness. Although such training can be effective and help people it is often implemented after they’ve suffered from stress. It won’t prevent others from becoming stressed as it doesn’t tackle the root cause. If you put people back into the same environment they will still be affected. According to the report, preventing stress by early intervention, or by designing job roles more efficiently, are the most effective means of tackling it.