Depression and stress account for an astonishing 29% of sick leave taken by staff at Gateshead Council this year.
Although the prevalence of depression and stress-related absences has fallen from almost 35% in 2021, it remains the single largest factor. By comparison, Covid-19-related sick days accounted for 17.7% of the total absences in 2022.
Michelle Brown, service director for HR workforce development, said: "In my past experience, you can capture this as either work-related or personal. What we don't understand at the moment is which it is.
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"In my 30 years of HR experience mind, it usually starts as something personal. Work plays a factor on occasion but it's usually the straw that breaks the camel's back.
"It is almost always at the point of being broken, then something happens at work. "
NHS symptoms for depression include; a prolonged low mood, feelings of guilt, feelings of hopelessness, eating more or less, and disrupted sleep patterns, among others. The health service recommends people to visit their GP if they experience symptoms for most of the day for more than two weeks.
A full list of symptoms can be found on the NHS website.
This comes as Gateshead Council continues to struggle to retain staff. The local authority between January 2021 and 2022 had a staff turnover of 12.7%.
While this was lower than the public sector average of 15.6%, Gateshead also has a significantly ageing workforce. A total 60% of the workforce is aged between 45 and 65 with only 12% aged between 25 and 35.
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According to council officers, this has contributed to around 16% of absences at work being attributed to post-operative recovery, as in general, older people require more operations.
The council is working on a three-year workforce strategy to improve staff retention and help employees experiencing stress and depression. More information on mental health can be found on the mental health charity Mind's website.
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