01/02/2008

• Bus giant sponsors pocket-sized emotional health cards
• Stress Down Day targets better care of health at work

Bus operator Stagecoach has thrown its weight behind a new Samaritans campaign to reduce workplace stress in Scotland.

Stagecoach, which operates 1,300 buses and employs more than 3,000 in Scotland, has sponsored pocket-sized "emotional health cards" encouraging people to "Speak up, Step Up".

The idea behind the cards, which will be handed out at various locations throughout the country today to mark Stress Down Day, is to urge people not to bottle up emotions and to share them with others where they can.

New figures from Samaritans reveal that Scotland's workers are so stressed a quarter of them dream of quitting the country for a life abroad.

More than 20% have also taken time off sick due to work-related stress, an average six days every year, half say their jobs are getting more stressful and 32% feel work rules their lives.

The findings are from a Samaritans survey for Stress Down Day, a national campaign to encourage people to take better care of their health at work and reduce currently damaging stress levels (www.stressdownday.org).

Samaritans' Scottish Development Manager Frances Simpson said: "Job related stress has a serious and unrecognised impact on the health of the nation and the economy, affecting concentration and efficiency. Thirteen million working days were lost to stress, depression and anxiety in 2005 at a staggering cost of £3.7 billion to UK plc.[1]

"Positive workplaces are a big factor in keeping everyone emotionally healthy. There is not enough openness and that i what Stress Down Day is all about; encouraging employers and employees to speak out and discuss problems before they escalate."

Steven Stewart, Director of Corporate Communications for Stagecoach Group, said: "We are delighted to be able to work closely with Samaritans for Stress Down Day. As a business, we take stress in the workplace very seriously and feel it's important to be there to help people when they need it most."

The Samaritans survey found that more than half of Scottish workers have seen colleagues cry over pressure and 45% say their employers try to get as much work out of them as they possibly can even when they see they are already very stressed.

Almost three quarters of people feel unable to cope with distressed colleagues and 34% say employers do not take workplace stress seriously, turning a blind eye to the problem. Nearly four fifths of people are unable to approach anyone beyond their manager for support and 12% have no one to talk to about work pressures.

Samaritans is experienced in workplace issues and runs WorkLife, a training course to tackle stress in the workplace and provide practical skills for managers and team members. Log on to www.samaritans.org for more information. A CD-ROM of the course is also available.

February 1 will also be marked by Breathing Space, a free and confidential phoneline for people who are feeling low or depressed. To find out more check out the website at www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk.

ENDS

For further information please contact:
Lee Simpson or Ryan Smith at Sigma Communications
Tel: 01577 866776
email lee@sigmacommunications.co.uk or ryan@sigmacommunications.co.uk

Steven Stewart, Director of Corporate Communications
Stagecoach Group
Tel: 01738 442111 or mobile 07764 774680
email: steven.stewart@stagecoachgroup.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The company employs around 30,000 people, and operates bus, coach, rail, and tram services. Stagecoach is one of the UK’s biggest bus operators, running around 7,000 buses in nearly 100 towns and cities across the country, from the Highlands of Scotland to south-west England.

Samaritans
Samaritans surveyed 2,100 adults in the UK and 500 adults in the Republic of Ireland, through nfpSynergy between the 12 and 30 November 2007. Samaritans is encouraging people to wear their slippers to work on Stress Down Day. To find out more about the day and how to buy Samaritans'exclusive monster slippers visit www.stressdownday.org.

It is the aim of Samaritans to make emotional health a mainstream issue. Samaritans believes that offering people the opportunity to be listened to in confidence, and accepted without prejudice, can alleviate despair and suicidal feelings.

Samaritans is a registered charity, founded in 1953, which offers 24-hour confidential emotional support to anyone in emotional distress. The service is offered by 16,800 trained volunteers and is entirely dependent on voluntary support. Across the UK, you can call Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 (1850 60 90 90 in the Republic of Ireland) email jo@samaritans.org, write to Samaritans at Chris, PO Box 9090, Stirling, FK8 2SA, or if you are deaf or hard of hearing use the single national minicom number 08457 90 91 92. Log on to www.samaritans.org for more information.

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[1] Figures from the Confederation of British Industry