The pilot scheme aims to tackle the stigma of mental distress

The Healthy Minds at Work scheme plans to tackle the stigma of mental distress and to help employers cut the cost of dealing with problems staff may have.

It will include a call centre offering advice and training, as well as research into how successful existing services are.

Wales has 10 of 33 UK areas with a high percentage of people on sick benefit.

Organisers of the Healthy Minds at Work scheme say more than half a million people in Wales experience anxiety, stress and depression, with thousands of them eventually losing their job.

The project wants to encourage workers and employers to step in earlier, to increase the chance of staff who go off sick for lengthy periods being able to return to work.

Tim Watkins, of Depression Alliance, said: "One in four is going to need time off work. The more we see that as inevitable the more we can put systems in place to stop people going off sick long term.

Around 500,000 Welsh workers suffer mental distress, say organisers

"Not everyone will get depressed, but all of us will experience a problem to the extent that it impacts on our life. We need to be preventing that up front or teaching people how to cope with it when it happens."

He said the scheme expected to use of a call centre in Treforest, near Pontypridd, from early 2006, and a publicity campaign would promote a confidential helpline.

Healthy Minds at Work is a partnership of mental health charities and employment and advice organisations, with the backing of the Welsh Assembly Government. Half the money is from European grants.

The lead partner is the disabled employment company, Remploy Interwork. Spokesman Mike Clark said many people who go on incapacity benefit due to stress, anxiety or depression could be helped to stay in their jobs.

He said: "When people leave work and go onto incapacity benefit due to mental health conditions it often means that they never return to the workplace.

"Assisting people to remain economically active can greatly benefit them, their families and their local communities."

Assembly Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies, said: "Stress, anxiety and depression are a growing problem in the modern workplace.