Latest research by the world’s first webcam based therapy service has discovered that 52% of employers don’t view depression as a viable reason to have time off work, whilst more than 1 in 5 admitted that they would be less likely to employ someone if they knew they had a history of mental illness.
According to a new study by the world’s largest online therapy and coaching platform, just over half of employers in the UK don’t take depression seriously, claiming it is not a good reason to take time off work.
The research of 1,822 employers was carried out by www.Mentaline.com <http://www.Mentaline.com> , in an attempt to discover more about attitudes towards mental illness in the workplace. Respondents to the study were asked questions surrounding their thoughts on certain mental illnesses; such as depression, anxiety and stress.
52% of the employers taking part in the study admitted that they personally did not consider depression as a good reason for staff to have time off work; whilst 59% said the same about stress. 64% also claimed that, in their opinion, anxiety wasn’t a good cause for leave.
During the study, 21% of respondents admitted that they’d personally favour candidates without a history of mental health issues over those who had suffered previously; whilst just over two thirds, 68%, said they’d be more sympathetic towards employees with a physical illness than those suffering from mental illness. Two fifths, 39%, also claimed that they ‘struggle’ to take mental illness seriously.
When asked, ‘Has a member of your staff ever had to take time off due to ill mental health?’ only 9% could say for definite that they had. The majority, 59%, said they were ‘unsure’.
A quarter, 23%, of respondents to the study said that they believed stress and depression were ‘too often used as an excuse’ for time off work. However, 44% admitted that they did not take steps to prevent ill mental health caused by work itself.
Mentaline.com offers webcam based therapy sessions to users who agree a fee with a professional on the site; as well as free access to pre-sessions and support forums in which counsellors, life coaches and psychologists are active.
Jesper Buch, founder of Mentaline.com, commented on the findings of the latest study:
“Mental illness should always be taken seriously, and it was quite shocking to see that so many employers seem to disregard issues such as depression and stress. Many of these issues can actually stem from working environments; so it’s important that employers acknowledge the problems, and fully understand them.
“As for employers being less in favour of hiring people with a history of mental health, that is discrimination, and in most cases is against the law. Unfortunately, mental health is still a very taboo subject in many people’s eyes, but that needs to stop. Education and raised awareness of the issues surrounding mental health is the only way to do so effectively.”
