Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

StressAnxietyDepressionStressMental health conditions

Older workers wait 54 days before seeking mental health advice

by Ashleigh Webber 17 Apr 2019
by Ashleigh Webber 17 Apr 2019

Despite two-thirds of over-55s experiencing symptoms of mental ill health, workers in this age group are most likely to delay seeking help – waiting an average of 54 days before getting advice, research has suggested.

Insurer and healthcare provider Bupa UK said a significant proportion of “baby boomers” experienced feelings of low-mood, anxiety, helplessness and insomnia, but were likely to keep their problems bottled up.

Mental health and stress

Staff question level of mental health support offered by employers

Working days lost to stress increase by nearly a quarter

A fifth of workers aged 55 and over felt it was inappropriate to discuss mental health concerns at work, despite two-thirds of organisations making it a boardroom priority.

Only one in 10 confided in a colleague or a manager about their symptoms – the lowest proportion of any age group in Bupa UK’s research.

Many were unaware that such symptoms could indicate a much more serious problem. Less than one in three felt they had the knowledge to confidently recognise conditions like depression and anxiety.

The healthcare provider reiterated the importance of early diagnosis to aid recovery and improve the management of such conditions.

Pablo Vandenabeele, clinical director for mental health at Bupa UK, said: “It’s clear to see that awareness of mental health issues is improving, but more needs to be done to address information gaps to ensure that everyone feels confident in recognising and seeking help for a mental health concern.”

The research of more than 2,100 UK adults showed that many older workers felt the awareness campaigns around mental health at work were aimed at younger employees – something that the younger workers that took part in the research also agreed.

A quarter of older workers felt symptoms like low mood and helplessness “don’t indicate anything serious”, while some over-55s said that poor mental health simply “doesn’t affect me”.

The research echoes the findings of a report published by Barnett Waddingham last year, which suggested fewer than four in 10 (38%) of over-50s would be happy talking about their mental health at work, compared with 43% of 18-29-year-olds and 45% of 30-49-year-olds.

Ashleigh Webber
Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is editor at OHW+ and part of the Personnel Today editorial team. Prior to joining Personnel Today in 2018, she covered the road transport sector for Commercial Motor and Motor Transport.

previous post
Should we rethink our working hours to boost productivity?
next post
Academics forced to sign NDAs to cover up bullying and harassment allegations

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Three in 10 say physical health has worsened...

20 May 2022

Obesity prevalence projections show 36% will be obese...

20 May 2022

NHS pressures leaving thousands waiting for cancer diagnosis

17 May 2022

Long NHS waits meaning many with long Covid...

17 May 2022

Grants scheme set up to support women’s health...

16 May 2022

Crumbling school buildings ‘risk to life’ suggests leak

16 May 2022

‘Gulf War Syndrome’ caused by release of nerve...

13 May 2022

Workers feeing increasingly anxious, burnt out and fearful...

13 May 2022

Shift workers: knowing the diet-related health risks

12 May 2022

Majority unaware of long-term damage caused by stroke

12 May 2022

  • The importance of being an ethical leader and how to become one PROMOTED | What is ethical leadership?...Read more
  • RPO Report: 2022, The Year to Outsource PROMOTED | Employers should be overwhelmed with choice...Read more
  • Report: Enabling organisational agility through talent & people success PROMOTED | Work has been challenged...Read more
  • Employee Trends 2022 report PROMOTED | Edenred research on employees analysed the key employees’ trends for 2022...Read more
  • How finance apprenticeships can boost business PROMOTED | As the world’s most forward-thinking professional accountancy body...Read more
  • Paul Devoy: Showing appreciation to the Investors in People community PROMOTED | Ask most people what comes to mind when you mention Investors in People...Read more
  • White paper: How digitalisation can support evolving occupational health PROMOTED | Download this free white paper to discover how digitalisation can help occupational health meet emerging challenges...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today