Workers are putting their mental and physical health at risk by spending too long sitting at their desks without interaction.  

The findings, based on interviews and surveys with over 1,000 people from a variety of jobs, showed that people were spending an average of five hours and 41 minutes sitting at their desks throughout the day.

Dr Myanna Duncan, of Loughborough University, said: “We’re looking at an ageing population, working later into their lives. To work later you need to be healthy.”

Participants claimed that they simply ‘forgot’ to stand up, after becoming absorbed in work or inundated with things to do.

The results also showed that people who spent a lot of time sitting at their desks at work were also more likely to sit around at home.

When workers spend nearly the same amount of time sitting in a stationary position as they do sleeping at night, obesity and health problems are bound to rise.

The findings are due to be presented at the British Psychological Society’s Annual Occupational Conference later on this year.

Dr Duncan advises office workers to make a conscious effort to get out of their chairs and move around throughout the day. She suggests talking to colleagues face to face rather than using email, or placing post-it notes on screens to act as reminders.

 Activity and social interaction are essential for a healthy mind. If you suffer from any mental health issues as a result of your daily habits, you could benefit from consulting a counsellor. To find out more about how counselling can help, please visit Types of Distress. Alternatively, you can use our simple search tool to find a counsellor near you. 

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We already know there has been a huge increase in the number of individuals seeking debt advice during unsocial hours, but now even more recent research has revealed that financial insecurity could be fuelling a rise in depression among Brits.

According to figures obtained by the BBC, the number of prescriptions for anti-depressant drugs such as prozac have increased by more than 40 per cent during the past four years.

Charities and health professionals alike believe part of the reason could be linked to individuals feeling pressured by job insecurities and an increase in financial strain.

Chief executive of the charity Depression Alliance UK, Emer O’Neill, said: “There is an increase in the number of people suffering from depression certainly, and the economic downturn has had an impact on that.

However, she also commented that part of the increase could be attributed to the stigma of depression having lifted significantly during the past few years, with individuals now having access to better information than ever before and with more and more people feeling comfortable enough to come forward and talk about mental health.

The sharp rise saw referrals for talking therapies rise four-fold last year and has prompted the government to increase access to therapies which would slow the demand for antidepressants.

According to figures from the NHS Prescription Services, the number of prescriptions for selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors rose by 43 per cent to just under 23 million a year between 2006 and 2010. The same figures also showed an increase in the prescriptions of various other drugs.

Paul Burstow, care services minister has said that the recession has left many facing difficult financial times, but if they do experience any mental health problems the NHS is well placed to help.

“We’re boosting funding for talking therapies by £400m over the next four years. This will ensure that modern, evidence-based therapies are available to all who need them, whether their depression or anxiety are caused by economic worries or anything else.”

For further information on debt counselling and counselling for depression please visit the relevant fact-sheets. Alternatively visit our homepage and use the search tool to find a counsellor in your local area.

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According to a recent study conducted by the Prince’s Trust Charity, unemployment among young people is resulting in increased levels of mental health problems.

The survey, which involved 2,170 participants, found that almost half of all the 16 to 25 year olds questioned had problems such as self-harm and insomnia. In addition to this, those who remained unemployed for a period of over a year, also stood an increased risk of suffering from panic attacks.

Around half of all young people visiting a job centre also admitted that it made them feel ashamed, with more than half saying that searching for a job had left them feeling disillusioned or desperate.

In response to these figures, The Department for Work and Pensions has said that from next year their new Work Programme which offers tailored support to help individuals return to work, will provide the unemployed with the help they need to move them into a job and stay there.

If you believe that either you or someone you know are suffering from a mental health problem then please visit the Types of Distress area of our site where you can find comprehensive information about various mental health complaints.

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The research, which was released to coincide with Stress Awareness day (3rd November) found that one in five workers have at some point had to call in sick as a result of stress, yet the vast majority (93 per cent)admitted lying to their boss about the real reason for not turning up.

Despite this, 70 per cent of employees would much rather be open with their employers about stress but one third wanted their boss to make the first move and approach them when they are showing signs of strain.

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind has urged employers to encourage openness at work so problems can be solved before they begin to snowball into low morale, low productivity and high sick leave.

The Mind research has also revealed that 62 per cent of employees feel their bosses are not doing enough to look after their well being, which could explain why stress has made one in five workers physically ill and has resulted in another one in 10 turning to counselling.

In addition to this, recent figures show that businesses are losing an estimated £8.4bn a year through sickness caused by poor mental well-being, further reinforcing the fact that issues such as this should be at the forefront of wellness in the workplace.

If you are struggling with stress and feel like it is hindering your ability to perform your job role then your first port of call is your manager. Though it is unlikely they will be trained to provide you with the healthcare you may need, they will be able assist you in finding someone who can and you will also feel a huge amount of relief now they are aware of what is happening.

If for whatever reason you really feel as though you can’t confide in a colleague then it is still essential you seek help from your healthcare provider. A popular avenue of help in situations such as this is that of counselling and if you would like to find out more then please visit our factsheet here.

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Recently the Department for Work and Pensions released the latest Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) applications statistics, which show that 39 per cent of applicants are fit for work following their assessment.

Paul Farmer has expressed a positive view on the Governments decision to review the WCA as he currently believes it is falling short of being able to measure how an individuals mental health issues affect their ability to work.

The review and the new scrutiny panel will now mean that those who have been struggling with the benefits system for years will have their views and concerns represented and will hopefully be the first step towards removing the negative stigma around benefits, which can have a huge impact on the mentally ill who find themselves labelled as ‘benefits scroungers’ despite a genuine need for help.

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The researchers from the Paris School of Economics, analysed data from a Europe wide survey and have found that three-quarters of those asked thought it was important to compare their salaries with others, even though those who did seemed less content.

The Economic Journal analysed data from the European Social Survey which covered 19,000 participants in 24 countries. The survey found that those who compared incomes tended to be less happy than those who did not.

In addition to this the study also found that it was comparing pay checks with friends and family that seemed to be the most unsettling for people and the act caused up to twice as much pain as comparisons with colleagues.

Experts have said comparing your salary with the earnings of colleagues could actually help to promote positive feelings about potential future income whereas comparisons with university friends cause damage because you shared the same opportunities.

Professor Cary Cooper is an expert in organisational psychology and health at Lancaster University Management School and has advised that people refrain from making such comparisons if we want to be happy with who we are and if we do really insist on doing so ”remember those you’re comparing yourself with may not actually be more content.”

Though the internet has revolutionised the way we communicate with one another enabling us to communicate and find people with ease, many experts are now arguing that certain sites such as Myspace, Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites are resulting in the rapid decline of our social skills and ability to read body language.

The survey which was undertaken by the Mental Health Foundation involved more than 2,200 adults of varying ages and concluded that thought loneliness affects people of all ages, women are more likely to report feelings of isolation than men.

The report says that it is too early to determine whether or not technology is having a detrimental affect on our ability to relate to each other but what we do already know is that technology can not be considered a substitute for human interaction and it is certainly no cure for loneliness.

An additional poll for the charity found that one in three of us would like to move closer to our families in order to spend more time with them and one in five of us have admitted to using the internet too much to communicating with friends and family when we should be seeing them in person.

Every day most Britain’s spend at least 50 minutes on the internet, detracting from the valuable time we could be using to have real social encounters. Technology will never be able to act as a substitute for the physical contact which benefits our well being.

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As mentioned last week by Counselling Directory, mental health charity Mind has compiled a study on workplace stress and have found that 10 per cent of Britain’s workers have visited their doctors due to work stress and 7 per cent have started taking antidepressants as a result of workplace worries.

The most recent findings from NHS figures show that last year has seen the biggest rise in antidepressant prescriptions on record, rising from 35.9 million in 2008 to 39.1 million in 2009.

Experts believe the huge increase could be a result of much longer working hours, competition with colleagues over promotions and low morale as many companies try to cut their costs.

The nature of workplace stress often means that people end up taking work home with them resulting in pressure spilling over into personal life and eventually having a detrimental effect on a persons entire lifestyle and wellbeing.

If you are feeling an increase in responsibility and pressure at work then you may find it useful to talk to an outside party. A counsellor is a fantastic way to help you understand why you are feeling the way you do and they will help you to regain control and perspective. You can contact a qualified professional in your local area using the homepage of this site.

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Dcis Cyfle, is Welsh for ”opportunity” so a perfect name for the three year project which aims to provide greater opportunities for autistic school leavers and job seekers.

The scheme, which is to be officially launched on Monday is a collaboration between Autism Cymru and the Irish Society for Autism, both of whom believe that levels of understanding and awareness about autism are very minimal.

The charities have developed a three day training programme which hopes to work with further education teachers, leisure providers and employers in order to dispel the many misconceptions surrounding the illness and in turn provide opportunities for those with autism.

“By developing relevant training and awareness raising packages, teachers, employers, lecturers, leisure workers and other service providers will appreciate the many gifts and competencies of people with ASD as well as understanding where the individual is coming from.”

Residents living in commuter towns such as Watford, Hertfordshire, can expect to die 1.8 years earlier than the national average of 79.6 years. A long retirement is also not looking as rosy for those living in Reading, Berkshire or Brighton in East Sussex ether, both who have a life expectancy of a year less than the national average for those earning similar incomes.

For many years studies have shown that life expectancy is closely related to average income, for instance the London borough of Chelsea situated in Kensington is one of the richest areas of the country and also boasts one of the highest life spans.

However, research on the topic is now showing that certain areas where people of a given income level can expect to live significantly longer or shorter lives.

Commuter towns outside of London exist because workers wanted to escape the higher prices and stress of living in the capital, but it would seem that the faster pace of life which is often linked to a shorter life expectancy is now following commuters into their leafy suburbs.

If you are finding it difficult to cope with pressures at work and the stress of commuting and would like to talk to someone then please visit the homepage of this site where you can contact a qualified counsellor in your local area.