Helping you to recognise the causes, signs, symptoms of stress and how to deal, manage and prevent it.
Here at ClearView we proactively support all our employees in recognising and dealing with stress/ mental health by offering a wide range of support, from mental health first aiders to free services and tools to overcome, deal, and manage stress. We have created a guide to help others and raise awareness in light of stress awareness month.
Understanding and Managing Stress: A Guide for Stress Awareness Month:
As Stress Awareness Month approaches, it’s essential to recognise the significant impact stress can have on our mental and physical well-being. Stress is a natural response to challenging situations, but when left unchecked, it can lead to serious health problems. This April, let’s shed light on stress awareness and explore strategies to effectively manage stress in our daily lives.
What is Stress? Stress is the body’s natural response to pressure or demand, triggered by various factors such as work, relationships, financial concerns, or major life changes. While some stress can be motivating and help us perform better, excessive or prolonged stress can take a toll on our health.
Causes of work related stress:
There are 6 main areas that can lead to work-related stress if they are not managed properly:
- Demands
- Control
- Support
- Relationships
- Role
- Change
If you’re finding it difficult to know where to start, see the Talking Toolkit provided by the HSE, for a step-by-step approach of what to ask and some ideas of what to do next.
Recognising the Signs of Stress: It’s essential to recognise the signs and symptoms of stress to address them effectively. Common signs of stress include:
- Physical Symptoms: Headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and gastrointestinal problems.
- Emotional Symptoms: Anxiety, irritability, mood swings, feeling overwhelmed, and difficulty concentrating.
- Behavioural Symptoms: Changes in appetite, social withdrawal, increased use of alcohol or drugs, and neglecting responsibilities.
A change in the way someone acts can also be a sign, for example taking more time off, arriving for work later, loss of motivation or confidence, or seeming more nervous or emotional. Across the team, this can also look like:
- Arguments
- Higher staff turnover
- More sickness absence
- Decreased performance
- More complaints and grievances
Managing Stress: Fortunately, there are many strategies to help manage and reduce stress levels:
- Practice Self-Care: Make time for activities you enjoy, such as exercise, hobbies, or spending time with loved ones.
- Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Practice mindfulness meditation, deep breathing exercises, or progressive muscle relaxation to calm the mind and body.
- Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Maintain a balanced diet, get regular exercise, prioritise sleep, and limit caffeine and alcohol intake.
- Set Realistic Goals: Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps, and prioritise your workload to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
- Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to reach out to friends, family, or a professional counselor for support and guidance.
Creating a Stress-Resilient Environment: Employers can also play a crucial role in promoting stress awareness and creating a supportive work environment:
- Encourage Open Communication: Foster a culture where employees feel comfortable discussing their concerns and seeking help when needed.
- Provide Resources: Offer stress management workshops, access to counseling services, and flexible work arrangements to support employees’ well-being.
- Promote Work-Life Balance: Encourage regular breaks, set reasonable work expectations, and promote a healthy work-life balance.
- Lead by Example: Managers and leaders should prioritise their own well-being and demonstrate healthy stress management practices to inspire their teams.
- Mental Health First Aiders: Encourage employees to participate in a MHFA course, to become a dedicated inhouse source of support, who are fully trained to correctly recognise, approach, and assist employees in the workplace.
Conclusion: Stress Awareness Month serves as a reminder to prioritise our mental health and well-being. By recognising the signs of stress, implementing effective stress management strategies, and creating supportive environments, we can reduce the negative impact of stress and lead happier, healthier lives. Let’s take this opportunity to raise awareness, support one another, and work towards a stress-resilient future.
Tools:
- register for bitesize learning for step-by-step advice, tools and templates
- download the campaign materials to share with others
The HSE provides support and free online tools:
- watch our video: 5 steps in 5 weeks
- view the manufacturing page of our Working Minds website for more information and details of the support available to the sector
- download our one-page round up of support and resources (.pdf) available to support employers and workers to prevent stress and support good mental health at work
Read the HSE’s blog, Taking an organisational approach to risk assessment, which has been provided to identify the root cause of any arising issues and help the whole team.
