6 Nov 2019
Check your wellbeing as part of National Stress Awareness Day
We’ve all experienced stress – it’s a normal part of life that you encounter at work and at home, and it is our body’s natural response when it senses danger.
However too much stress can cause us to feel overwhelmed, making existing problems worse and negatively affecting our health.
It can contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression and even harm our physical health. According to Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA), one in six UK workers will experience these symptoms.
Today (6 November) is National Stress Awareness Day, an important reminder to think about our own wellbeing and whether you feel like you may need additional support or guidance on how to manage stress.
Understanding what is causing us to feel stressed, and then taking appropriate action, is a significant part of the process in improving your wellbeing.
Below are some useful self-care tips which may be able to reduce your stress levels:
- Take the time to exercise regularly and eat well – physical and mental health are closely connected
- Set aside time to learn a new skill or indulge yourself – we all deserve to have fun!
- Share how you’re feeling instead of bottling up your feelings – this can make things worse in the long run
- Don’t feel pressured to always be doing something. Switch off from distractions (it might be helpful to schedule a reminder) – this includes reducing screen-time
- Stop chasing perfection – accept mistakes will happen, otherwise you’ll set yourself unrealistic expectations
Neil Budworth, the University’s Health, Safety and Risk Manager, commented: “Stress is a very individual thing, one person’s challenge can be another’s terror. Everyone will feel stressed from time to time, it’s part of life’s rich tapestry.
“Recognising your own triggers, understanding how being under stress affects you personally and most importantly recognising what you can do about it is hugely important. The University offers loads of things to help you – training courses, online and telephone support – but you need to know what works for you.”
Staff members can access the following University support services:
- Counselling – Staff members can have up to six sessions of free counselling each year following a consultation
- Employee Assistance Programme – a confidential, 24/7 support service external to the University that covers health and wellbeing as well as legal, financial and relationship matters
- Mental Health First Aiders – There are colleagues across both campuses of the University that are trained in Mental Health First Aid. They have been trained to have the skills and confidence to approach and support someone experiencing mental ill-health.
- Spiritual support – The Centre for Faith and Spirituality is a safe space where staff are welcome to reflect, explore and express faith, as well as provide support for spiritual, ethical and moral concerns.
Further resources – including the Weekly Wellbeing Check-Up list - are available on the MHFA website as part of their ‘Address Your Stress’ campaign here.
