McInnes supports Samaritans' Stress Down Day campaign (Alison McInnes)

Alison McInnes <info@alisonmcinnes.co.uk>

McInnes supports Samaritans' Stress Down Day campaign

February 5, 2009 12:00 AM

Alison McInnes backs the Samaritans Stress Down Day Campaign North East MSP Alison McInnes has joined the Samaritans - the leading emotional health charity - in the Scottish Parliament to help raise awareness of the issues surrounding stress in the workplace.

The Samaritans were hosting a reception at Holyrood as a prelude to "Stress Down Day" on Friday 6th February 2009.

Organisations throughout the UK will be participating in Stress Down Day - combining fundraising for Samaritans with running "de-stressing" activities such as allowing employees to wear their slippers to work.

Stress in the workplace costs UK business billions of pounds every year in lost productivity as well as the catastrophic emotional toll to those suffering stress.

Samaritans offer a free and confidential 24 hour emotional support service to people suffering from emotional distress over the last 55 years.

Commenting after the reception, Mrs McInnes said: "The Samaritans are to be congratulated for highlighting the problem of stress in the workplace. Stress Down Day is a fun way of drawing attention to what is a growing problem.

"Employers can help reduce stress by encouraging staff to have a good work/life balance. I would urge anyone who is feeling overwhelmed to talk to someone about it - family, friends or colleagues. If that's not possible the Samaritans are always there and have been providing a confidential and non judgemental service for over 50 years."

Frances Simpson, Scottish Development Manager with Samaritans added: "People spend a large proportion of their lives at work and it is not surprising that stress caused in the workplace can have an adverse effect on people's lives both inside and outside of work. Samaritans understands the pressures that organisations are under at the moment with the economy in difficulty. However a healthy workforce both physically and mentally will have a positive long term effect for Scotland's businesses and we would urge as many workplaces as possible to get involved in Stress Down Day."

For more information about Stress Down Day please visit www.stressdownday.co.uk