A new study suggests that depression and anxiety are a little more common in the UK than most would think.

According to research carried out by careers website CV-Library, more than a third of British workers have struggled with mental health issues over the course of their life in employment.

Almost half (42.9 per cent) of respondents told the survey that they felt their job was a direct contributor to these issues – while 70.6 per cent added that their symptoms of depression and anxiety were having a negative effect on their ability to their jobs.

The research has led to calls for employers to do more to support their workers and to encourage good mental health in the workplace, particularly over the course of January – a time commonly regarded as one of the ‘most depressing’ months of the year.

The survey, which quizzed 1,200 British workers, also found that workplace woes were often having a wider impact on workers’ mental health at home.

Almost half (47.3) per cent said that they ‘dreaded’ going to work, while a further quarter (24.2 per cent) said that they felt drained and exhausted by the time they got home.

A further eight per cent said that they had taken time off work to get to grips with their symptoms, while 7.4 per cent said that they did not feel comfortable having conversations with their colleagues.

Lee Biggins, of CV-Library, said: “While mental health is something we are beginning to talk more about across the UK, it’s clear that there’s still more that needs to be done to help those affected – especially in the workplace.

“It’s sad to learn that one in three UK professionals are suffering from depression and/or anxiety, and that this is having such a negative impact on their ability to do their job.”