1 August 2012

PRESS RELEASE

Requests for help with mental distress and employment increase in first six months of 2012

New requests for help with mental distress and employment increased in the first six months of 2012, according to Chartered Accountants’ Benevolent Association.

The charity reports that compared to the previous six months, mental distress showed the most substantial increase at 6% while employment by rose 2%.

Other categories of enquiry monitored by CABA, including debt, carer issues, physical health, training and general information, were broadly unchanged.

Kath Haines, Chief Executive, said: “For some months, we have been publicising the fact that there are growing levels of mental health problems among accountants, mostly related to the stress caused by the manner in which ongoing economic pressures are impacting upon their employers and the clients for which they work.

“This appears to be a growing issue and we have responded by introducing a range of new services, notably our ‘Beating the Blues’ programme. More than 20 people have now used this and it is helping them develop the tools to cope more effectively.

“To a great extent, the increase in requests for help that we have seen in the employment category is also related to this area. Many accountants are finding themselves under increasing pressure at work and, if they are jobless, are also finding it more difficult to find new employment. Again, we have recently introduced new services in this area and are starting to see uptake.”

Interestingly, the percentage of enquiries to CABA regarding direct financial help in the last six months showed a marked decrease – from 55% to 45%. Kath added that although these requests now formed a smaller percentage of new enquiries to the charity, the actual number had not generally fallen over time and had even showed a slight increase as the economic conditions prompted more people to ask for help.

She explained: “As most chartered accountants will now be aware, CABA started developing a range of services to add to our traditional role as a financial supporter in 2010 and, as a result, we are seeing the number of enquiries relating to wellbeing rise quite quickly. This means that financial support is starting to become a smaller part of our service provision by percentage but remains very important.”

Notes to editors

1.    Chartered Accountants’ Benevolent Association (CABA) was formed in 1886, and supports current and former members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and their dependent family members.   

2.    CABA provides a holistic service, delivered in a caring and confidential way.  CABA operates completely independently of ICAEW.

3.    Based in Rugby, CABA support ICAEW members and their families around the world.

4.    Additional information about the charity can be found on CABA’s website, please visit www.caba.org.uk

For further details about this press release please contact:

·         Simon Wells at Paperchase Public Relations

·         Telephone: 01283 711311 / 07768 912430

·         E-mail: simon@paperchasepr.co.uk

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