REDUCING ABSENTEEISM BY STRESS MANAGEMENT - VALUATION OF A STRESS COUNSELING-SERVICE

The problem of stress-related sickness absence and approaches to stres s management are discussed. A stress counselling service for hospital staff is described and evaluated. A total of 163 staff were seen by a psychologist for short-term counselling at the hospital's Occupational Health Unit. Most completed a brief questionnaire before and immediat ely after counselling. Subjects were also sent a questionnaire at 6-mo nth follow-up. Self-reported mood and functioning showed significant i mprovements, most of which were sustained at follow-up. Numbers of day s and episodes of sickness absence were significantly lower in the 6 m onths following counselling compared to the equivalent period prior to counselling. The results suggest the beneficial effects of stress man agement; more definite conclusions await controlled studies.