To coincide with Mental Health Action Week, Acas has urged firms in the Yorkshire and Humber area to focus on ensuring employees are healthy at work.

According to the organisation, 204,000 people in the region have suffered from an illness which they believed was caused or made worse by their work.

In order to help businesses promote and manage a healthy working environment, therefore, Acas has launched a free guide entitled Health, Work and Wellbeing in the Workplace.

Intended for businesses, HR managers and employees, the resource contains information of a range of issues, including how to recognise health problems among staff.

"If businesses can take steps to manage ill-health – physical and mental – then they will save money and have happier employees," stated Peter McGee, area director of Acas Yorkshire and Humber.

Organised by the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Action Week runs from March 23rd-29th.