Poll shows 74% of adults experience severe stress

Survey reveals serious impact of stress both at home and at work

A survey has found 74% of adults have in the last year been so stressed they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.

The poll, commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation, also found more than a third of people (35%) had experienced suicidal thoughts or feelings because of stress.

One-sixth of people (16%), meanwhile, said they had self-harmed as a result of feelings of stress.

The study was commissioned by YouGov as Mental Health Awareness week was launched, which has been run by the Mental Health Foundation for the past 18 years.

The study, which quizzed 1,012 people, is included in a new report by the Mental Health Foundation published today called Stress – Are We Coping?

Lee Knifton, head of Mental Health Foundation Scotland, said: “Very large numbers of adults in Scotland are experiencing high levels of stress and it is damaging our health. Stress is one of the great public health challenges of our time, but it still isn’t being taken as seriously as physical health concerns.

“Stress is a significant factor in mental health problems including anxiety and depression.

“It is also linked to physical health problems like heart disease, problems with our immune system, insomnia and digestive problems.”

A separate report by insurance firm Aviva also found day-to-day issues such as money worries, family and work pressures mean more of us “struggle to cope” at some stage.

The Aviva Wellbeing report questioned 4,205 UK adults, two thirds of whom suffered from stress (67%) and a similar number (64%) had depression.

Meanwhile, further research shows managers do not know how to deal with mental stress issues.

A survey of more than 500 managers by QBE Business Insurance found one in three believed employees should not discuss mental health, while many said they were not equipped to deal with the issue.

Half of managers in larger firms admitted more should be done and most wanted training on how to deal with mental health.