Stress-related and psychological disorders in Great Britain (GB)

Work-related stress is defined as a harmful reaction people have to undue pressures and demands place on them at work.

The latest estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) show:

• The total number of cases of stress in 2011/12 was 428 000 (40%) out of a total of 1 073 000 for all work-related illnesses
• The estimated cases of work-related stress, both total and new cases, have remained broadly flat over the past decade.
• The industries that reported the highest rates of total cases of work-related stress (three-year average) were human health and social work, education and public administration and defence
• The occupations that reported the highest rates of total cases of work-related stress (three-year average) were health professionals (in particular nurses), teaching and educational professionals, and caring personal services (in particular welfare and housing associate professionals)
• The main work activities attributed by respondents as causing their work-related stress, or making it worse, was work pressure, lack of managerial support and work-related violence and bullying

Figure 1: Rates for total cases and new cases of work-related stress, depression or anxiety in GB.