ONLINE STRESS NEWS, 1999

STRESS, HEALTH, LAW, RESEARCH, PEOPLE, AND MUCH MORE

REGULAR UPDATE OF DEVELOPMENTS AT THE CENTRES, INCLUDING COURSES, PUBLICATIONS, AND STAFF.

ALSO INFORMATION & NEWS ABOUT:

STRESS

STRESS RESEARCH

STRESS MANAGEMENT

STRESS COUNSELLING

STRESS & THE LAW

COURT AWARDS

PEOPLE IN STRESS

PUBLICATIONS

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

< St JOHN'S WORT FIGHTS DEPRESSION A recent report published in the British Medical Journal suggests that the herb, St John's Wort, is effective for mild depression. The herb works in a similar fashion to Prozac by blocking the brain from reabsorbing serotonin. It is worth noting that in Germany medical practitioners prescribe the herb more often than Prozac. 14/12/99

IT 'IMPROVEMENTS' STRESS STAFF. A recent survey sponsored by Toshiba found that IT upgrades could make many offices less efficient by increasing staff turnover and stress. This would suggest that better planning and relevant staff training are necessary when introducing IT upgrades.

2/12/99.

DOCTORS ARE STRESSED. New study undertaken by the Centre for Clinical Psychology at the University of Northumbria found that out of the 100 doctors taking part in the survey, 2% admitted to killing a patient through negligent care whilst 8% admited to making serious mistakes. 30% of junior doctors suffered from stress-related disorders such as alcohol abuse and depression. 60% reported that being tired was a stressor. Some even reported hitting patients. 17/11/99.

INLAND REVENUE TAX STRESS COUNSELLING. If employees receive stress counselling (paid for by their organisation)for non-work problems, then this can be taxed as a benefit in kind. As matters that arise in counselling are normally considered as confidential it will be interesting to see how the Inland Revenue will decide what is and what is not taxable during a counselling session!!! 21/10/99.

STRESS: NUMBER 1 REASON FOR ABSENCE FROM THE WORKPLACE. Research published by Gee Publishing has found that stress has overtaken the common cold as the major reason for absence from work. Only 40% of the 300 plus organisations surveyed were undertaking any interventions to deal with stress. In some cases the action only involved giving staff a booklet on stress and stress management. More information on +44 (0) 207 393 7666.

7/10/99.

£47,000 OUT-OF-COURT SETTLEMENT FOR TEACHER. In 1996, teacher, Muriel Benson, took early retirement from Prenton High School in Wirral due to a stress-related illness caused by overwork. In 1988 she wrote to her employers about her increasing workload. After taking a period of time off work due to stress/anxiety in February, 1995, on her subsequent return to work her employers, Wirral Borough Council, did not closely supervise or monitor her workload. In fact, in September she was informed that she would need to teach an extra exam class in 1996. By January, 1996 she was signed off work suffering from stress and depression. Recently her education authority paid her £47,000 compensation. 1/10/99

ALCOHOL AND DRUG-RELATED PROBLEMS COST UK £2 BILLION. A new Institute of Personnel and Development booklet by Ms Tricia Jackson, suggests that the alcohol and drug misuse is costing the UK £2 billion p.a. About 75% of people with alcohol problems are in work and an estimated 14 million working days a year are lost due to drug and alcohol misuse. 18/9/99

CORONARY HEART DISEASE. Heart disease in Britain lags behind the rest of Europe, USA and Canada and Japan. In order is Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, England/Wales, USA, Germany, Canada, Australia, Italy, Spain, France, Japan. To obtain more information see the Office of Health Economics website: www.abpi.org.uk/links/ohe.htm 14/8/99

CHOCOLATE & TEA SAVE LIVES! Both tea and chocolate contain catechin which is an antioxidant. This helps to reduce cholesterol and may even have anti-cancer properties. Dark chocolate contains over three times as much catechin when compared to milk chocolate (100 gramms dark - 53.5 milligrams; 100 gramms milk - 15.9 milligrams). Advice: Have a cup of tea with a dark chocolate biscuit! 13/8/99

COMPENSATION CASES. The TUC are seeking compensation for stress in approximately 500 individual cases. 12/8/99

BAD HEALTH ADVICE. A report published in Which, by the Consumer's Association has found that many health food shops provide inadequate or poor advice. It advises that compulsory basic training should be given to health shop workers. 12/8/99

25,000 STAFF TAKE EARLY RETIREMENT. 25,000 Public sector staff are taking ill health retirements every year. This costs the taxpayer over £35,000 for each early retirement. It has been estimated that the overall total figure could be as high as £1 billion p.a. 12/8/99

WALK FOR HEALTH. A study in the journal Nature found that rapid walking for 45 minutes, 3 days a week, can improve the mental abilities of people over 60. Additonal oxygen taken in during walking helps this process. 1/8/99

ABSENTEEISM IN BRITAIN. The Confederation of British Industry estimated that absenteeism is costing British Industry more than £10 billion during 1998 which is approximately £426 per employee. The survey was sponsored by BUPA. Two hundred million days were lost through illness each year! 30/7/99

CHILD ABUSE. The Annual Conference of the Professional Association of Teachers held in Southport heard that exams could be considered as 'child abuse' due to the pressure placed upon children. 28/7/99

£84,000 AWARD. Another pay out this week in the UK. A former home help supervisor, Cath Noonan, 53, received an out of court settlement after a claim for constructive dismissal. She had been off work for two years before retiring because of illness triggered by the harassment she received after she was promoted more rapidly than a work colleague. Her employers were Liverpool City Council. 7/7/99

£67,000 AWARD. Mrs Beverley Lancaster, a former housing officer, was awarded £67,000 compensation for occupational stress on 5th July. Legal history was made as Birmingham City Council admitted liability for her illness. The award was made by the court which is another first as usually out of court settlements are agreed. She had worked for the Council for 26 years. In 1978 she was a senior draughtsperson in the architecture department who was later upgraded to a housing officer in 1993 and had to deal with demanding tenants in the Sutton Coldfield Neighbourhood Office. She did not receive the necessary training and finally she suffered from depression, anxiety and panic attacks. 5/7/99

NEW COURSES. Next week the centre runs two new course, the Primary Certificate in Occupational and Organisational Stress Management, and the Primary Certificate in Brief and Timelimited Therapy. 1/7/99

NEW POST. Director of the Centre for Stress Management, Dr. Stephen Palmer will be taking up a new post on 1st. October, 1999, as an Honorary Visiting Professor at City University, in the Department of Psychology. He is currently an Honorary Senior Visiting Clinical and Research Fellow, in the Centre for Counselling Psychology at City University. 1/7/99

HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMISSION. Comments on the HSC discussion document, 'Managing Stress at work' must be submitted no later than 30 July, 1999. Further details from Stuart Bristow at: stuart.bristow@hse.gov.uk

The HSC have used the following definition for stress: is the reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types demand placed on them. The HSC ask if this definition is useful. Two of the problems with this definition is that it ignores perceptions of stress and it more accurately describes strain. However, the discussion paper is a step in the right direction and is well worth responding to. 1/7/99

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