Individuals suffering from common mental health ailments can return to work even as they are recovering, according to researchers at the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health. This is because resuming work can speed up recovery for numerous patients.

In her paper Common Health Problems at Work, Linda Seymour analyses recent studies that focus on helping people suffering from anxiety and depression to continue with their jobs or resume duties at the earliest. The report advocates specialist help including psychological therapy for mental health patients so that they can join office as soon as possible.

According to the research, expert job advice can prove as crucial as psychological help in encouraging employees to stick with their present employment and make an early comeback to work after battling illness.

The study also examines how line managers and supervisors respond when a staff member falls ill, suggesting that their behaviour can heavily influence a worker’s decision to quit or continue with his/her current employment.

According to Seymour, the Head of Policy at Sainsbury, the review demonstrates that people can rejoin their office even before their metal illness is fully cured if they are given expert advice and undergo psychological therapy under the supervision of a good doctor.

Seymour said the research literature reviewed by them suggests people can stay fit by working and mental health problems cost many their jobs. She added that a GP’s ‘fit note’ – describing what a person can do and what they cannot – and the British government’s efforts towards providing psychological therapy, must be complemented by job advice to both bosses and their staff.

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