Letter: Health costs

NHS staff do work that is both difficult and essential, so it's important that we react constructively to the news of high NHS sickness absence levels, most commonly due to mental health problems (your report, 2 May).

As part of the Scottish Association for Mental Health's Dismissed? campaign, we recently published a report called What's it Worth Now? This put the social and economic costs of mental health problems at 10.7 billion, with sickness absence alone costing employers almost 2 million a day. It also set out steps employers can take to reduce these costs and help their workforce to stay mentally healthy.

It's clear that there is much to be gained from investing in the mental health of NHS staff. We hope that NHS boards will recognise this and take action.

BILLY WATSON

Chief executive, SAMH

Brunswick House

Wilson Street, Glasgow