Stress Awareness Month

Most people have experienced stress in their lives. Stress Awareness Month aims to promote public understanding for the causes and cures of stress. It also hopes to break the stigma around stress.

Who celebrates?

Everyone – it’s a global awareness month!

How do people celebrate?

• The aim of stress awareness month is to relax and to unwind so one way to celebrate may be to practice meditation and find other ways to unwind
• Stress awareness month also advocates for exercise as a form of stress relief.

What should I know?

• Stress can be defined as being under too much mental or emotional pressure or feeling a sense of psychological strain
• The Mental Health Foundation reported that in 2019 74% of adults in the UK felt so stressed that they were unable to cope or were overwhelmed
• Stress is also considered an important contributor to other mental health issues such as anxiety and depression and physical issues like heart disease.

How can I support others?

• Ensure you’re taking care of your own mental health first
• Use our additional resources to education yourself on how to recognise stress and manage it
• If you are able create a space for people to go to unwind if they feel overwhelmed
• Take the opportunity to make sure your people know the resources available to support them
• Recognise when someone may need professional support.

Stress.Org: https://www.stress.org.uk/national-stress-awareness-month-2019/

Mind: Work & Stress: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/how-to-be-mentally-healthy-at-work/work-and-stress/

Bupa: Work Stress: https://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/mental-health/stress-workplace