UK: Stress, anxiety most common reasons for sick leave, affecting men at higher rates

Article here. Contrary to "conventional wisdom". Excerpt:

'Stress and anxiety are the leading causes of sickness in the UK's workforce, accounting for more than a third of doctors' notes to employers, research has shown.

A survey of tens of thousands of GPs' sick notes found that 35 per cent of illnesses were linked to stress, anxiety or depression.

In one doctors' surgery, more than half of employees' absentee sick notes were described as being down to 'mild to moderate mental health disorders'.

The figures come as additional research reveals that those who are concerned that stress might harm their health are twice as likely to suffer a heart attack than those who thought it had no effect.

The government's sick note scheme, renamed the fit note in April 2010, was designed to help employers back into work after a week of illness.'