A CHURCH offering support for unemployed people has revealed new research into the psychological impact of having no work.

St James’s Church in Thornton, Bradford, runs a job club in partnership with UK charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) and its organisers say they have seen first-hand how unemployment can lead to, or make worse, feelings of despair and anxiety.

“It’s very common for people to feel depressed and isolated and the longer that period of unemployment lasts, the more it affects someone’s self-esteem,” said Jane Broder, Thornton and Allerton Job Club manager.

“On top of that, there’s the financial impact of being out of work and it is well known that financial stress is a major cause of poor mental health.”

Out of 100 people asked at the club how unemployment made them fee,l four in ten reported problems sleeping, more than half said it caused stress, six out of ten often suffered anxiety and 67 per cent had experienced depression.

The findings were released as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, promoted by the Mental Health Foundation. This year’s theme was relationships.

Ms Broder said: “Relationships are key to surviving a time of unemployment and staying positive, which is why we would recommend coming along to the CAP Job Club.

“It can be a lonely and boring time without work and our team here go all-out to combat that with support and good company.”

Only half of those attending the job club admitted to any kind of social life at the start of the eight-week course but at the end 91 per cent said they had a social life.

The research also found that 99 per cent of people would recommend the club, with many finding work and staying in employment.

Unemployment in the Bradford district has dropped below the 9,000 mark again, according to the latest Government figures. The fall of 2.8 per cent in April follows small increases the previous three months.

The Thornton CAP Job Club can be contacted at 0800 328 0006.