April is Stress Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness of the causes and cures of stress.
Stress Awareness month is delivered by The Stress Management Society who have created lots of helpful resources that can be downloaded for free – including the poster in this article. Visit their website for infographics, workshops and more…
This year’s theme #LittleByLittle highlights the significant impact consistent, small, positive actions can have on our wellbeing.
Andrew Hale, Health Improvement and Equalities Officer shares: “Stress can be more common than we think and many of us experience stressful situations at various times of the year and at various points in our lives.
“It is often continuous pressure or stress over a period of time, from one or more multiple sources that can lead to health and wellbeing related issues.”
“This Stress Awareness Month, we are reminding colleagues that support is available, and the Council will do everything it can to support you if you are experiencing symptoms.”
“You are not alone if you feel very or extremely stressed.
“Whether it is family, money, mental health or other live events, irrespective of the source of your stress (work or personal), if you are feeling stressed please talk to your manager or someone else you feel comfortable talking to… you are not alone.
“Please don’t bottle it up – no one can support you if you don’t raise a concern. It’s good to talk.”
Who you should speak to?
If you feel that excessive pressure may be affecting your general health, or absence from work, please seek help from:
- Your Manager
- Employee Representative
- HR Adviser
- Your GP
- Another health professional
- The Council’s Occupational Health Service
- One of our Wellbeing Warriors
Once having the courage to open up, you can then work together to:
- Try to understand the situation, including causes and possible solutions
- Access support
- Develop a plan to tackle the stressors/pressures (the causes of stress) that is acceptable to all, particularly to you and your line manager
- Assess whether anyone else is experiencing problems and if a broader organisational intervention is required.
“This Stress Awareness Month, we are reminding colleagues that support is available, and the Council will do everything it can to support you if you are experiencing symptoms. You are not alone if you feel very or extremely stressed. If you are feeling stressed please talk to your manager or someone else you feel comfortable talking to… you are not alone.”– Andrew Hale, Health Improvement and Equalities Officer
The Council’s Insurance partner Zurich also provides counselling and support services that can be accessed for free by employees. Further information on this can be found here: Zurich General Insurance Support Services Guide.
Support Available
Visit the LiveWell Group’s Stress and Counselling webpage on Connects for further information on the advice and support available.
Read the Able Futures Latest News article about how the service – provided by the Department of Work and Pensions – is on hand to provide employees with mental health and wellbeing support for FREE, without long wait times.
Watch the video where Helen Foster, Head of Pensions, Wellbeing and Benefits at Sodexo, explains how Able Futures has helped them. Read more in the Sodexo case study article.