18% fear being branded "mad" by bosses and colleagues

15th March 2010

Nearly one-fifth of people in the UK are afraid to talk to their employers about mental health problems because they worry about the repercussions, new research has revealed.

A study by charity Rethink found that 18 per cent of staff members think their supervisors would label them as "mad" if they admitted to having a psychological illness, with only nine per cent saying they are at ease with discussing such matters.

"Fear of losing their job was the main reason people gave for feeling uncomfortable," the organisation stated. "Closely followed by concern about colleagues finding out about their diagnosis."

Being sacked was a concern for 26 per cent of respondents, while 17 per cent feel admitting to psychological illnesses could see them being passed over for promotion.

To raise awareness in this area, Rethink recently launched a selection of guides advising line managers on how to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace under the Disability Discrimination Act.

It comes as Coronation Street star Beverley Callard thanked ITV bosses and colleagues for their understanding after the actress took time away from the show to recover from depression.

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