Stress Awareness Month
April marks the transformative impact of consistent, small positive actions on reducing stress and improving overall wellbeing
In April, we celebrate Stress Awareness Month, a time dedicated to acknowledging and addressing the impact of stress on our lives. This year’s theme of #LittleByLittle reminds that even the smallest actions can make the biggest changes to our wellbeing.
Stress Awareness Month is a chance to check in with ourselves, see how we’re feeling and reach out to others who might be going through a tough time. During this month, we focus on finding ways to manage stress, whether it’s through relaxation techniques, talking to friends and family or trying out new hobbies.
This month isn’t just about us. It’s also an opportunity to show kindness and support others who might be feeling overwhelmed. By listening and being there for each other, we create a community where everyone feels understood and supported. Together, we can make a difference in how we handle stress and build resilience for the future.
Common myths about stress
stress is always harmful
Stress isn’t always bad. Some stress can be motivating and improve performance. It’s the long-lasting, unmanageable stress that’s harmful.
stress only affects your body
Stress can affect your mind and body. It can lead to various health problems, like anxiety and depression.
eliminating stress is the goal
Instead of eliminating stress, look to manage it. A little bit of stress is necessary for personal growth and resilience. The key is learning to handle it better.
What to do when you experience stress
Establish Your Priorities: Compile a list of all your tasks and rank them in order of importance. This will allow you to tackle them in a structured way. Visualising your priorities can also reduce some of the anxiety surrounding them.
Connect with a Loved One: Share your experiences and emotions with people close to you, knowing that they care for you and want to see you thrive. If speaking directly feels challenging, consider another form of contact like writing a letter or sending a text message.
Exercise: You don’t even have to do intense workouts. A brief stroll in your local park can help with your stress symptoms. Read more about workouts that boost your mood.
Find a new hobby: If you’re unsure where to start, consider joining a local activity club, delving into a captivating book, or whipping up something delightful in the kitchen.
Change Mental Health offers mental health training for workplaces looking to understand personal wellbeing, stress and how to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
We are also running free Rural Connections training for small businesses with under 50 staff in rural Scotland.
Get in touch with our Training team today and we can discuss ways in which we can work together to prevent and tackle stress in your workplace.
Many young people today are facing heightened stress relating to both academic and social pressures. Having an increased understanding of tools, we can use to manage these stressors can help young people to build resilience and manage their mental health both now and into the future. Our young people’s programmes are here to help you!
If you know of a school or youth organisation that you would like us to get involved with, simply copy our young people’s programmes into an email with the relevant teachers, coaches or leaders. From there, we will explain how we can work together to support young people’s mental health.
Aside donating to Change Mental Health, there are many ways in which you can support us. Nominate Change Mental Health in the Benefact Group: Movement for Good Awards and we could be awarded funding to support more people affected by mental illness across communities in Scotland.
support
Our Advice and Support Service is open Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm, where advisers can signpost you to local support that most fits your needs, including our own Change Mental Health services. We offer initial advice on money worries and help to deal with emergencies.
Contact 0808 8010 515, email us at advice@changemh.org or fill out the enquiry form on the Advice and Support Service page.
