UCL Occupational Health Service: European Week for Safety and Health at Work begins 20 October

The Agency researches, develops and distributes reliable, balanced, and impartial safety and health information and organises pan-European awareness - raising campaigns. It also brings together representatives from the European Commission, Member State governments, employers and workers organisations, as well as leading experts in each of the EU Member States and beyond.

Work-related stress and Psychosocial risks: the facts

• Over half of European workers report that work-related stress is common in their workplace.

• Around 4 in 10 workers think that stress is not handled well in their workplace.

• Workers are likely to take a significant amount of time off when suffering from work-related stress and other psychological problems, or turn up for work but not be able to function at full capacity.

• Psychosocial risks and work-related stress give rise to significant costs for organisations and national economies alike

• Psychosocial risks can be assessed and managed in the same systematic way as other occupational safety and health risks

• Managing stress and psychosocial risks at work is worthwhile

The Occupational Health Service provides useful information and advice for UCL staff on the following:-

• Managing stress at work
• Managing pressure and avoiding stress
• Resilience and high performance
• Work life balance

Remember Your Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Staff requiring emotional support on stress can contact their EAP at assistance@workplaceoptions.com Freephone 0800 243 458. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 year and is free, confidential and independent.

In addition Mentored Online Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (cCBT) is available as well as traditional methods of counselling.

Further information

European Agency Safety and Health at Work

Mental Health Foundation

Mind

Elaine Fletcher, Occupational Health Service , Human Resources Division