07/11/2025
Did you know this week has been stress awareness week?
Why is being aware of stress, talking about it, and crucially - taking action on stress important?
It’s one of the biggest causes of absence from work, with a massive impact on the wellbeing of individuals suffering from stress, on employers and the wider economy.
This year, the theme of the International Stress Management Association is Optimising Employee Wellbeing through Strategic Stress Management:
“A workplace culture that prioritises growth, support, recognition, and psychological safety is not just advantageous - it’s essential. By actively fostering and sustaining such a culture, organisations empower individuals to succeed while reaping the benefits of a healthier, more productive workforce, creating a win-win for employees and the organisation alike.”
So what can we do? A few highlights:
✅ Think beyond box ticking exercises and look closely at workplace culture.
✅ Particularly if you’re a leader, read up on the fantastic research being done in the world on Psychological Safety.
✅ Consider that Mental Health First Aid training should be mandatory, just like Physical First Aid. We can help!
✅ Encourage open conversations without blame, reduce stigma, and help people to feel safe, like they belong and are heard.
✅ Make time to unwind. It might sound a bit cliche, but if you’re not prioritising time for you, start right now.
On that note, we’ll leave you to consider how you’re going to fit in some happy time this weekend. Here’s one of ours from last week - a midweek beach bimble in Northumberland. Bliss. ❤️
