The recession has had a significant impact on the mental wellbeing of the British workforce, with a considerable number of people seeing their doctors and taking antidepressants for mental health problems and stress, apparently linked directly with the pressures of the recession in the workplace. The findings of MIND, a leading British mental health charity, have prompted fears for the mental health of hundreds of thousands of employees who face pressures as businesses tighten their belts.

According to MIND's Populus poll of 2,050 employees, as a direct result of recession in the UK:

• 10% have visited their GP (general practitioner, primary care physician)
• 28% were putting in more hours of work each week
• 5% have consulted a counselor
• 50% informed there was a slump in morale
• 7% have started on a course of medical therapy for depression
• Approximately 1/3 said employees were competing against one another

The findings coincide with new UK governments figures which reveal the largest ever increase in antidepressant prescriptions - 39.1 million were issued in 2009, compared to 35.9 million the year before.

Badly managed stress and problems related to mental health have for a long time been workforce issues. MIND informs that according to previous research, approximately 1 in every 6 people of working age experiences a mental health problem each year in the UK, and 5 million individuals believe work-related stress has made them very or extremely stressed.

According to MIND:

• A mere 38% of employees believe their current employer is providing enough support
• About 25% were brought to tears at work because of "unmanageable pressure"
• Approximately 20% of individuals blamed their work for making them physically ill
• Nearly half of all people have lost sleep due to work
• Over one fifth had developed depression