Yoga at work could improve staff mental health, WHO says

Yoga at work and stress management courses for bosses could help to reduce mental illness in offices and factories.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that as well as providing yoga classes at work, all firms should give managers mental health training so they can prevent stressful working conditions and help staff in distress.

The WHO and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) recommend interventions "that aim to build workers' skills in stress management" such as mindfulness training.

Other recommendations include providing opportunities at work for "leisure-based physical activity" such as resistance training, strength training, walking and yoga. If this cannot be done at work, then managers should provide employees with "external opportunities" to complete the activities.

The report added that "high workload increases the risk of symptoms of mental health conditions" and that for workers in "emotional distress" psychosocial interventions such as cognitive behavioural approaches or problem solving training may be considered in an effort to "reduce these symptoms and improve work effectiveness".

The document looks at risks to workers' mental health from issues such as bullying and psychological violence.

One in seven adults has a mental health disorder, the WHO said. About 12 billion working days are lost each year, and lost productivity as a result of depression and anxiety costs the global economy about £1 trillion a year.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO's director general, said: "It's time to focus on the detrimental effect work can have on our mental health.

"The wellbeing of the individual is reason enough to act, but poor mental health can also have a debilitating impact on a person's performance and productivity.

"These new guidelines can help prevent negative work situations and cultures and offer much-needed mental health protection and support for working people."

Guy Ryder, director general of the ILO, added: "As people spend a large proportion of their lives in work - a safe and healthy working environment is critical.

"We need to invest to build a culture of prevention around mental health at work, reshape the work environment to stop stigma and social exclusion, and ensure employees with mental health conditions feel protected and supported."