Did you know April marks National Stress Awareness Month?
This particularly important month aims to bring about awareness of stress related issues. Many health care professionals and health promotion experts across the country will join together to generate public awareness around the causes and cures for the stress related issues many of us face in modern day society.
Sponsored by The Health Resource Network (HRN), a non-profit health education organisation, National Stress Awareness Month is a national, cooperative effort to inform people about the dangers of stress, successful coping strategies, and harmful misconceptions about stress that are prevalent in our society.
Fast Paced
Working longer hours, taking on too much work, sitting in traffic, and generally feeling like there’s not enough hours in the day are all aspects of modern life many of face which can result in becoming stressed. We lived in such a face paced society nowadays that stress related issues have sky rocketed.
According to reports, 45 million working days have been lost due to stress in the past three years. Below are some key stats the Health and Safety Executive’s yearly report outlined for 2016:
- The total number of cases of work related stress, depression or anxiety in 2015/16 was 488,000 cases, a prevalence rate of 1510 per 100,000 workers.
- The number of new cases was 224,000, an incidence rate of 690 per 100,000 workers. The estimated number and rate have remained broadly flat for more than a decade.
- The total number of working days lost due to this condition in 2015/16 was 11.7 million days. This equated to an average of 23.9 days lost per case. Working days lost per worker showed a generally downward trend up to around 2009/10; since then the rate has been broadly flat.
- In 2015/16 stress accounted for 37% of all work related ill health cases and 45% of all working days lost due to ill health.
This incredible figures only show figures related to work related stress, to think what the numbers would be for everyone who suffers is alarming.
National Stress Awareness Month
So what can be done?
As discussed many health professionals are joining forces to make this issue more widely spoken about and trying to get across how stress related illnesses can be dealt with.
Careline presents below the top ways you can control stress:
- Talk to someone – There’s nothing better than taking the weight off your shoulders through letting someone know how you are feeling. It doesn’t need to be a healthcare professional, although in more serious cases this would be advisable, but close fiends and family can always help.
- Take control – Easier said than done but sitting back and assessing what is stressing you out and putting a plan in place for ways you can reduce this is a great start.
- Relax! – Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, and take breaks. Have quite times perhaps when you can truly zone out.
- Manage your time – If you feel there’s not enough hours in the day to complete what you need to it’s time to manage your time more effectively. Get a diary and set realistic deadlines, don’t overload yourself, and remember you don’t have to say yes to everything.
- Stress relief activities – Exercise, yoga, listen to music, play a game. Do something you love that is complete stress free to take your mind off things.
- Cut the Caffeine – Last but not least, cut out the tea and coffee as well as alcohol and nicotine – these can add to stress levels and make you feel worse!
If you’re concerned about stress related issues you can read more on the NHS website or speak to you GP. If you’re worried or stressed about an elderly loved one then why not read more about Careline’s personal alarms – they provide peace of mind to anyone who may suffer accidents such as falls at home.
