According to statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), an estimated 134,000 workers in the health and social care sector suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety over the three-year period 2022 to 2025. This accounted for 52% of all work-related ill health in the sector, with the rate significantly higher than the average across all industries.
To help employers in their legal responsibility to manage the risk of work-related stress, and make prevention part of the everyday, the HSE’s Working Minds campaign provides practical tools, guidance and free online learning. It provides practical tools, templates and guidance, and helps individuals to build their understanding through six interactive, bitesize modules based on practical workplace scenarios.
The HSE’s 5 Rs framework embeds stress prevention into everyday management through a simple approach: Reach out, Recognise, Respond, Reflect and Make it Routine.
Positive outcome
Work-related stress can be caused by many different factors, including workload and working patterns, lack of control, relationships, support levels, job role and organisational change. Not only do employers have a legal responsibility, but managing and preventing stress is good for the organisation, increasing productivity, improving sickness absence and reducing staff turnover.
