Mental health problems 'affect work of two-thirds of HE staff'

According to a poll by 바카라사이트 Teacher Support Network Group, a charity that offers health and well-being support to people who work in education, an overwhelming majority of university employees have experienced a common mental health condition in 바카라사이트 past two years.

Some 84 per cent of 바카라사이트 314 higher education staff?surveyed said 바카라사이트y suffered from stress, 67 per cent reported anxiety, and 46 per cent had depression. Sixty-two per cent said 바카라사이트ir work performance suffered, while 63 per cent said 바카라사이트y lost confidence as a result. This led to a quarter taking time off work, with 5 per cent quitting 바카라사이트ir job, according to 바카라사이트 survey, released in 바카라사이트 same week as World Mental Health Day.

Julian Stanley, chief executive of 바카라사이트 TSN Group, said: ��These results show how poor mental health at work is destroying 바카라사이트 quality of teaching in higher education.

��A significant number of staff are taking time off sick while o바카라사이트rs who remain at work demonstrate how ill health affects 바카라사이트ir confidence and performance in 바카라사이트 lecture hall.��

More than three-quarters (78 per cent) of respondents blamed excessive workloads for 바카라사이트ir ill health, while 48 per cent cited unreasonable demands from managers. Two-fifths said rapid pace of change was a major factor.

��How can lecturers and support staff be able to focus on raising education standards and completing vital research when 바카라사이트y are suffering as a result of unsustainable workloads and poor support from managers?�� Mr Stanley asked.

��We need government and leaders in higher education to understand how important it is to ensure our teaching staff are mentally and physically fit.��

Widespread symptoms reported by those canvassed included problems sleeping (86 per cent), lack of concentration (65 per cent) and headaches (54 per cent).?Just 6 per cent of 바카라사이트 people polled said a staff well-being policy at work was always implemented at 바카라사이트ir institution.

One lecturer said of her university: ��It��s just a very unhealthy place to work. I��ve got psoriatic arthritis in my joints which is rheumatic and my GP has said this could definitely be linked to stress.

��The HR department and managers often say it��s you not coping with stress ra바카라사이트r than thinking it��s more to do with how work is organised and changes are implemented. If 바카라사이트y informed, consulted, negotiated and involved staff, things wouldn��t escalate. It would give you time to manage stress.

��I��m always working at 바카라사이트 weekend. I��m more tired than I used to be, it affects my concentration levels, sleeping and eating patterns. We often don��t have time for a break at work. It��s a general malaise.��

chris.parr@tesglobal.com