Stress in the City: More must be done to break the culture of suffering in silence

Encouraging City workers to open up

A career in the City is rarely a realistic option for those seeking a stress-free life, writes Howard Hymanson, partner at London law firm Harbottle & Lewis.

Given the dynamic nature of the banking and finance sector and inherent responsibilities associated with these roles, a high level of day-to-day stress is to be expected and is indeed something that many thrive on.  However, long hours, deadlines and tough competition within an intellectually demanding setting are continuing to take their toll on many City workers, with manageable stress levels increasingly tipping over into psychiatric illness. Mental health conditions, and the awareness of how they affect working lives, have become increasingly widespread in recent years. This we...