More workers seek counselling in ‘Blue January’

Women workers struggled to cope last month with money woes, family problems, and work-related anxiety, helpline calls reveal.

Figures from VHI show a large spike in the number of employees looking for counselling, mostly women who called its employee assistance programme, which managed more than 900 calls last month.

Comparing December to January, this represents a 400% increase in calls regarding financial issues, and a 60% increase in the number of those seeking face-to-face counselling. Nearly 70% of the calls were from women, while the top issues were work-related and personal.