Stress Awareness Month 2024
Stress awareness in the workplace
According to the Mental Health Foundation in 2021, 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.
As part of stress awareness month, there is a 30-day challenge which encourages you to pick one action each day to benefit either your physical, mental or emotional wellbeing.
The Health and Safety Executive states that in 2022/23:
- 875,000 cases of work-related stress, depression, or anxiety.
- Stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 49% of all work-related ill-health cases and 54% of all working days lost due to work-related ill-health.
- The main work factors cited as causing work-related stress, depression or anxiety include the demands of the job, lack of control, lack of information and support, work relationships, and roles and responsibilities.
Employers have a legal duty of care to ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of their employees, including mental health and stress. Mental wellbeing also benefits the business, for example, a reduction in sickness and staff turnover, and it demonstrates that the organisation is a good, safe, and supportive place to work.
Mental wellbeing in the workplace is also good for the employee, improving confidence, purpose, achievement, positive relationships, and inclusion, as examples.
Things you can do to manage stress from the Stress Management Society.
