47% 'ashamed' to tell employers about mental health conditions

2nd September 2010

Research has revealed that nearly half of workers with mental health conditions in Wales admit to being too ashamed to tell their employers.

Conducted by Nacro, the study found that 47 per cent of those asked were of this opinion, while 44 per cent would be too embarrassed to disclose matters concerning bankruptcy.

The survey - part of the body's Change the Record campaign - found that 61 per cent would feel humiliated by telling managers that they have a criminal record - which can include minor offences such as driving violations and cautions for shoplifting, as well as more serious misdemeanours.

Director of policy with the organisation Jackie Lowthian said: "If we don't provide the right help to these people and the right advice to employers, we are throwing good people with valuable skills on the scrapheap."

Businesses could make reasonable adjustments to improve the wellbeing of staff by introducing the Classical Siesta, for example, set up by Travelodge to revitalise exhausted staff, HR Magazine recently reported.

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