The post recession blues have made more than one-quarter of the UK’s employees fearful of work and damaged by stress, new research has found.

According to the mental health charity Mind, stress levels are so high amongst the country’s workforce that weekends are ruined and many cannot face heading back to their desks on Monday mornings.

In a survey of more than 2,000 adults, Mind found that 26% suffered from ‘Sunday Blues’, while 9% have contacted their GP to discuss stress and 7% are taking prescribed medication to combat the problem.

"The emotional fallout of the recession doesn't just centre on people who have lost their jobs, but on people who are struggling to cope with the extra demands of working harder, longer hours, and under more pressure as their employers battle for survival," commented Fosters Personal Injury lawyer Jackie Lake.

More than 50% of those surveyed claimed staff morale has plunged in the past few years, with 8% resigning from their jobs dues to mental health last year and just 38% claiming their employers offer enough workplace support.

Mental health issues cost businesses an estimated £26bn a year, but with better interventions this could be slashed by one-third, saving the industry up to £8bn a year.

However, with the new coalition government determined to slash spending across the UK’s economy, Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind said it is "more important than ever" that businesses look at how they can manage stress levels and "improve the working environment for all their employees".

"Small changes can have big results, such as making sure staff take their breaks and making time to listen to their concerns," he added. "No employer can afford to ignore mental health."

If you have suffered from work related stress and believe that you may be entitled to compensation, contact Fosters personal injury solicitor Jackie Lake on freephone 0800 214 072 or email jlake@fosters-solicitors.co.uk.