National Stress Awareness Month this April aims to raise awareness of the negative impact of stress.
Stress and poor mental health are one of the biggest public health challenges that are being faced. Society continues to separate mental health from physical health. What we know is that these are interlinked. Not only can suffering from stress lead to serious mental health disorders, anxiety and depression there is clear evidence that feeling stressed can lead to physical problems like heart disease, insomnia, digestive issues, immune system challenges.
Stress Awareness Month has been held since 1992 raising awareness of its causes and highlighting support that is available. It gives a dedicated time to highlight how people suffering from stress feel, allowing them time to open up about their mental and emotional state with friends, families, colleagues, and professionals, reducing the stigma, shame and guilt that surrounds it.
Take action
The aim of this year’s #choose hope campaign being run by the Stress Management Society is to support people feeling stressed to have hope, look at things differently and find a way through and beyond the challenges they feel, giving them help to create a plan and achieve a goal. As part of this campaign resources and information are available to download which will support individuals and organisations to take action.
To receive stress busting emails sign up to the Stress management society newsletter
- Further resources can be found by clicking on these links:
- Stress Awareness Month Focus on the Workplace
- 30 Day Challenge Hints and Tips
- Digital Detox Checklist
- 7 Step Achievement Plan
- Sam Antolik’s Stress Relief Adult Colouring Book
- A Guide to Talking you from Distress to De-Stress
- Unlock your Happy using Simple Daily Activities
What could you do for Stress Awareness Month
- Talk about stress and its effects – work together to reduce the stigma that is associated with stress by talking about the topic openly and freely with friends, family and colleagues.
- Share your coping mechanisms – if something has worked for you, why not share it. It might benefit someone you care about. It might help you take your focus off your own challenges.
- Be nice to those who are stressed and anxious – we are all undoubtedly going to experience stress and anxiety in our lifetime so treat others going through it with compassion and empathy.
- Look after yourself – we all need to think more about self–care. Take time out of your day to relax or do something that you enjoy. Don’t forget to exercise and eat well, even when you feel too stressed.
The 30 Day Challenge
It’s not too late to sign up to the 30 Day Challenge for April in which you implement small, simple daily actions that can result in life-changing outcomes over the long term.
30-day challenges may be guided, or they may be self-directed. Either way, they are fun and engaging.
It takes 30 days to turn actions into habits so sign up today!