More than 80 per cent of people in the region have been bullied during their careers and 42 per cent say they are so stressed they dream of quitting for a life abroad.

And more than half say their jobs are getting more stressful and 44 per cent feel work rules their lives.

Over a quarter have taken time off sick with stress, with an average six days.

To find out more visit ...
www.stressdownday.org

These are the key findings of a Samaritans survey for Stress Down Day, taking place on Friday, February 1 - a national campaign to encourage people to take better care of their health at work and reduce currently damaging stress levels.

Samaritans' Joe Ferns said: "Job-related stress has a serious and unrecognised impact on the health of the nation and the economy, affecting concentration and efficiency.

"Thirteen million working days were lost to stress, depression and anxiety in 2005 at a staggering cost of 3.7bn to UK plc.

"Positive workplaces are a big factor in keeping everyone emotionally healthy.

"There is not enough openness and that is what Stress Down Day is all about; encouraging employers and employees to speak out and discuss problems before they escalate."

Three fifths of people in the North East have seen colleagues cry over pressure and half say their employers try to get as much work out of them as they possibly can - even when they see they are already stressed.

More than 60 per cent of people feel unable to cope with distressed colleagues and 48 per cent say employers don't take workplace stress seriously, turning a blind eye to the problem.

Almost 70 per cent are unable to approach anyone beyond their manager for support and 17 per cent have no one to talk to about work pressures.

Professor Cary Cooper of Lancaster University, an internationally recognised expert in the field of workplace stress, said: "These results really disturb me.

"Shouldn't we be managing people by reward and praise rather than by fault finding and bullying?

"We know that dealing with difficult people issues can be lonely and frustrating.

"The message from Samaritans is that you are not alone.

"Employees need more support from work colleagues and line managers and everyone needs coping skills to help them deal with everyday pressures."

Samaritans surveyed 2,100 adults in the UK and 500 adults in the Republic of Ireland, through nfpSynergy between November 12 and 30, 2007.

Samaritans is encouraging people to wear their slippers to work on Stress Down Day.

To find out more about the day visit www.stressdownday.org