LONDON (AFP) - The economic downturn has had a big impact on the mental wellbeing of people in the workplace, according to a study published yesterday.

In a survey of 2,000 workers, mental health charity Mind found one in 10 had sought help from their doctors and seven percent had started taking antidepressants for work-related stress problems.

The findings came after official figures recently showed the biggest ever rise in prescriptions for antipressants which hit a 39.1 million last year, up from 35.9 million in 2008.

Half of workers in the study also complained of a slump in staff morale and many said they are working longer hours and competing with colleagues to keep their jobs as businesses tighten their belts during the recession.

"Working conditions have been incredibly tough for the last couple of years, and the emotional fall out of the recession doesn't just centre on people who have lost their jobs," said Mind's chief executive Paul Farmer.

The charity said mental health remains a "taboo" subject, causing many employees to put on a brave face and conceal their anxiety.

According to Mind, the problem costs businesses some £26 billion a year, a figure it says could be cut by a third if companies improved efforts to promote the better staff wellbeing.

"Employers and employees have a responsibility to recognise that mental health is an issue in every workforce," said Farmer, adding that in current economic times, "it is more important than ever" that businesses look to improve their working environments.

"A bad work environment can be damaging and can trigger a wide range of problems from exhaustion to depression, while having a good working life is proven to be an asset for our overall mental health," he added.