Press Release: Graham Norton stamps out stress

Date: 30th January 2008

Contact: Kate Redway / Claire Duncan
Phone: +44 (0)20 8394 8342 /  +44 (0)20 8394 8342
Email k.redway@samaritans.org / c.duncan@samaritans.org
Out of hours press phone: 07943 809162

 

Samaritans beats Winter blues

Employees across the UK are switching off their emails and slipping into something more comfortable at work on Friday 1st February to support Samaritans Stress Down Day.

The emotional support charity is bringing seasonal relief to busy workers and raising awareness of the detrimental effects of stress. With over 80% of workers saying they would rather phone in sick with flu or another problem rather than admit they were stressed [i] Samaritans’ ambassador Graham Norton is encouraging people to speak out about work pressures and take better care of their emotional health this February.

Graham Norton said: “I did work with a nightmare boss once who everyone hated but the frightening moment now is when you realise ‘Oh my gosh, I am the boss! I am the one they go home and complain about!

“It is very important that there is a service like Samaritans out there, somebody people can turn to when things are really bleak and can’t manage to put things in perspective for themselves. It’s fantastic that no matter what time of day or night it is, there is someone to bounce off and assure you that this time will pass.”

“I have had disasters at work and crazy interviews, but if they are funny we end up keeping them in the show to make people laugh.”

 

Employees are getting involved in the day by wearing slippers to work, selling detoxing smoothies in the office, sponsoring colleagues to turn emails off for a couple of peaceful hours and creating a chill out zone for people to hire out throughout the day.

Companies involved in the day include Royal Mail, BUPA, Dorset Cereals, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Motorola, Taylor’s of Harrogate, First Direct, Lloyd’s of London, Trader Media Group, RBC Dexia, Royal London, Allianz Insurance and WPA.

Join celebrity supporters Graham Norton, Stephen Fry, Trisha Goddard, Supernanny, rugby international Josh Lewsey and John Humphrys for the ultimate dress down Friday relaxation and exclusive Stress Down Day monster slippers by logging on to www.stressdownday.org and help Samaritans’ 16,800 volunteers continue to answer the 4.8 million contacts received every year, one call every six seconds.

Samaritans’ supporters Neal’s Yard Remedies are helping people to beat the January blues by selling a De-Stress Kit, Harmony Gift Box and life coaching guide, ’52 Ways To Change Your Life’ in their 30 UK stores and donating 10% of profits, on these products, to Samaritans. In-store staff are qualified in natural medicine, providing remedy pick-me-ups from aromatherapy to nutritional supplements.

 

Why Stress Down Day?

• A third of UK workers cannot get to sleep at night through anxiety - and three-quarters cannot ‘switch off’ when they leave their office.[ii]
  
• Stress in the workplace is frequently cited as the number one issue affecting employee productivity with the cost to the British economy being estimated at £3.7 billion per year, but added to this figure is the immeasurable amount of personal cost that stress and economic inactivity brings.[iii]
  
• The European Union (EU) says that work-related stress affects 40 million workers in its member states and costs the EU at least €20 billion a year.[iv]

 

[i] Samaritans Stressed Out Survey 2007

[ii] Samaritans Stressed Out Survey 2006

[iii] HSE/ Labour Force Survey

[iv] European Union

-ends-
 

Notes to editors

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.

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