Priory warns of dangers of work-related stress

February 3, 2010 by SallyPreston

NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF PRIORY GROUP

PRIORY WARNS OF DANGERS OF WORK-RELATED STRESS

3/2/10

Doctors at the Priory Group, the UK’s leading independent provider of mental healthcare, are advising businesses to make a New Year resolution to tackle stress at work.

The Health and Safety Executive’s official definition of work-related stress is "The adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them at work."

Stress is the second biggest occupational health issue in the UK after back problems. It is estimated* that 11.4 million working days were lost in 2008/9 through stress-related illnesses.

Even super-cool Simon Cowell recently admitted to becoming stressed due to his heavy work-load. (Interview BBC TV Newsnight 14/12/09)

The recession and high unemployment has also led to employees feeling under extra pressure to take on more work and responsibilities to stave off the threat of redundancy.

Although not an illness in itself, stress can lead to both mental and physical illness if it is not tackled.

Dr Jeremy Broadhead, consultant psychiatrist at the Priory Hospital Hayes Grove said: “When people feel overwhelmed with work, they lose confidence and become irritable or withdrawn. This inevitably makes them less productive and their work less rewarding.
“If the warning signs of work stress go unattended, they can lead to bigger problems. Beyond interfering with job performance and satisfaction, chronic or intense stress can also lead to physical and emotional health problems.”
Dr Broadhead has put together a brief guide to avoiding work-related stress.

• Prioritise your work-load and make sure you have a good work-life balance.
• Don’t over commit yourself. Delegate or drop things that are not absolutely necessary.
• Make sure your work environment is comfortable.
• Have regular breaks during the day – even a few minutes can help.
• Talk to someone about how you are feeling.
• Keep physically fit through regular exercise and healthy eating.
• Be aware of excessive smoking or drinking alcohol as this will only make matters worse.

Dr Broadhead said: “When people feel under impossible pressure at work, they tend to work harder and harder to try to close the gap between what they're achieving and what they think they should be achieving.
“The secret of managing stress is to look after yourself and, where possible, to remove some of the causes of stress.
“However, sometimes it can all become too much to cope with without seeking help. That is when it is advisable to seek help from hospitals such as the Priory.”

*HSE figures

ENDS
CONTACT: Caroline Walker on 01325 383886

Notes to editors:

The Priory Group is the UK’s leading independent provider of acute mental health services, secure and step-down services, specialist education, complex care and neuro-rehabilitation services, working in partnership with the public and independent sectors.
Priory's acute psychiatric hospitals offer a comprehensive range of successful, evidence-based inpatient, outpatient and day patient treatment programmes and therapy services for a wide variety of mental health issues, including depression, addictions, eating disorders and child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).
Priory Secure Services is a specialist provider of secure mental health services working in partnership with the NHS.
Priory's complex care hospitals and neuro-rehabilitation centres treat people with enduring mental and physical illnesses, restricted mobility and challenging behaviours that are often the result of organic, degenerative or neurological problems and whose needs cannot be met in conventional environments. Priory's neuro-rehabilitation centres care for people with a wide range of acquired or progressive neurological disorders, including brain injuries and illness, spinal injuries, brain haemorrhages and stroke.
Priory Education Services is the UK's leading independent provider of specialist education and care for children and young people aged four to 35 with Asperger's Syndrome (AS), autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESD) and specific learning difficulties associated with dyslexia.
Priory Care homes is a new range of high quality care homes offering long-term, short-term and respite nursing care for older people who are physically frail or suffering with dementia related disorders.
Priory Fostering Services is a specialist provider of long-term, short-term and respite placements for 'looked after children'. We specialise in adolescent placements for young people with challenging behaviours, sibling groups, special needs, unaccompanied asylum seeking children and mother and baby placements.

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