Customers of corporate health insurance may be interested to hear about the Government’s new plans to help people suffering from stress return to work.

According to the Department of Health, a package of support will be used to help people with depression or anxiety.

The Health secretary, Alan Johnson and work and the pensions secretary, James Purnell revealed that greater use will be made of talking therapies and a network of employment support workers to reduce the number of staff who are on long-term sick leave or unemployed.

NHS Direct will also run a dedicated phone line with health advisers, who are trained to spot the early signs of depression in workers, while NHS Choices will include more online advice and information about services in people's local area.

Speaking about what the new Government proposal aims to alleviate, Alan Johnson said: "In the current economic downturn, the potential exists for more people to become anxious or depressed and experience lower levels of mental wellbeing."