Health and Safety Executive

Table THORGP09

Breakdown of mental ill-health cases reported to THOR-GP according to precipitating event THOR-GP 2006 to 2008

Precipitating event Number of cases reported to THOR-GP July 2005 to December 2007 % of precipitating events
1. Factors intrinsic to the job
1.0 Factors intrinsic to the job (unspecified) 39 2.0
1.1 Workload /over demand /pressure of work 376 19.5
1.2 Work schedule /hours /shift work 80 4.2
1.3 Travel /working away from home 8 0.4
1.4 Isolation 7 0.4
1.5 Organisational factors, role poor defined, low job control,
perceived lack of support and poor management		 187 9.7
1.6 Under load /boredom /monotony 3 0.2
1.7 Responsibilities 16 0.8
2. Changes at work
2.0 Changes at work (unspecified) 16 0.8
2.1 Change of management /organisational change /company take over 55 2.9
2.2 Changes in ways of work, e.g. using new technology 19 1.0
2.3 Change of work content (new job, added responsibilities,
capability problems, real or perceived)		 59 3.1
2.4 Reduction in resources available including staff 89 4.6
2.5 Relocation 11 0.6
3. Interpersonal relationships
3.0 Interpersonal relationships (unspecified) 33 1.7
3.1 Interpersonal difficulties with manager /foreman 189 9.8
3.2 Interpersonal difficulties with other workers 70 3.6
3.3 Interpersonal difficulties with patients /clients /relatives /pupils 31 1.6
3.4 Bullying /sexual harassment 184 9.5
3.5 Practical joking 0 0.0
3.6 Whistle blowing 3 0.2
4. Inequality
4.0 Inequality (unspecified) 3 0.2
4.1 Racism 3 0.2
4.2 Sexism 0 0.0
5. Personal Development
5.0 Personal Development (unspecified) 3 0.2
5.1 Job not secure 13 0.7
5.2 Redundancy /unemployment /threat of redundancy /sacked 34 1.8
5.3 Business failure, bankruptcy 12 0.6
5.4 Lack of opportunities /demotion 9 0.5
5.6 Exams /training pressures /courses /OFSTED /appraisal 19 1.0
5.7 Lack of training 8 0.4
6. Physical working environment
6.0 Physical working environment (unspecified) 4 0.2
6.1 Physical working conditions (temperature, lighting, smell or noise) 3 0.2
6.2 Risks to self from environmental factors (chemicals, infection, radiation, etc) 2 0.1
6.3 Musculoskeletal risk factor 15 0.8
7. Traumatic Events
7.0 Traumatic Events (unspecified) 6 0.3
7.1 Violence at work /verbal abuse /sexual assault 31 1.6
7.2 Accidents and physical injury 8 0.4
7.3 Traumatic experience of other people injury or fatality at work 9 0.5
7.4 Disciplinary action /accusation /legal proceedings etc 54 2.8
8. Home - work interface
8.0 Home - work interface (unspecified) 3 0.2
8.1 One or more physical illness 9 0.5
8.2 Previous psychiatric illness /family history of psychiatric illness 7 0.4
8.3 Family responsibilities /home-work interface /pregnancy /childbirth /children /
severe health problem in close relative		 47 2.4
8.4 Severe event, death in family or close friend,
separation, marital break up or marital problem		 8 0.4
8.5 Personal financial problem (excluding business bankruptcy or business failure) 4 0.2
9. Others
9.0 Others (unspecified) 0 0.0
9.1 War /strife /combat related 13 0.7
9.2 Personal characteristics, e.g. loss of confidence,
felt not good enough for the job or over expectation for the job		 24 1.2
9.3 Unspecified work stress 84 4.4
9.4 Alcohol and drup abuse 3 0.2
9.9 No reason given 14 0.7
Totals
Total events 1927 100%
Total cases 1288  

Notes

  • * More than one task is often reported per case

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Updated 10.09.09