Working women’s stress burden grows

Women are increasingly being diagnosed with stress and depression as they struggle to balance hectic working lives with rearing children and running homes, according to doctors and women’s groups.

The country’s biggest income protection insurer has recorded a sharp increase in women making claims because they are on sick leave with psychiatric illnesses such as depression.

GPs said many working women presenting at surgeries with drinking problems began turning to wine to help them unwind once children went to bed.