Mental health impacts on absence rates at Stockport Council
Mental health issues are the most common reason Stockport council staff take sick days.
A report has revealed mental health issues are the most common reason Stockport council staff take sick days.
From April to September mental health accounted for 31% of absences.
The authority has also made 373 referrals for its staff to occupational health experts or counselling services for conditions, such as stress, anxiety and depression.
The council has now begun collecting more data in a bid to better understand the causes related to mental health.
The figures were presented to members of the authority’s resource and governance scrutiny committee last week.
An average of 4.78 days per employee have been lost as a result of sickness so far this year, higher than the figure (4.17) at the same point the previous year.
Meanwhile, other reasons related to disability, injury, muscular problems or due to a common cough, cold or flu.
Coun Elise Wilson said: “There has been an increase in overall sickness compared to last year’s figures.
“There isn’t one particular reason or a certain department that we can pinpoint the rise to.
“However, there have been improvements to the way long-term sickness is managed and, as a result, there has been a decrease in this area.”
Committee chairman Lisa Smart questioned whether bereavement should be classed as ‘sick leave’, or something else.
Coun Wilson said: “That could be something that could be looked into.
“However, we are trying to make sure that staff know what support is available to them.
“We can see there are some issues, but we are putting in place structures so that staff are aware of additional support.