New research suggests that the stress of the recession coupled with existing workplace pressures, leads 1 in 14 British workers to taking anti-depressants to cope.  The research was conducted by the mental health charity Mind with Populus.

Mind's Chief Executive Paul Farmer cautioned: "A bad work environment can be damaging and can trigger a wide range of problems from exhaustion to depression, while having a good working life is proven to be an asset for our overall mental health"

Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne has lent his support to Mind's new campaign, which aims to create healthier workplace environments.

Mr Bannatyne said: “It’s a very anxious time. However the recession is also a good time for businesses to be working on promoting well being.

“You’ve got to look after your staff. If you haven’t got staff, you haven’t got a business. It’s a simple as that.”

The research reports that 1 in 5 say that work-induced stress has made them physically ill and 1 in 4 have cried at work from stress and pressure.

Paul Farmer and Mind want to see change for the better in the workplace.  “Investing in wellbeing doesn’t have to be expensive, and businesses who look after their staff reap the rewards in reduced sickness absence and increased productivity.

“No employer can afford to ignore mental health.”

As the recession leads ever more people down the path of debt problems and forces ever more into claiming bankruptcy, the pressure and stress on the typical British worker looks set to continue, even increase.  With many concerned about the extent of the new cuts which the Government will be introducing in their 22nd July first annual budget, and further job loss expected throughout all working sectors, will even more of the British working public be on anti-depressants by the end of the year?