Mental Health and Wellbeing at Work - Stress Awareness Day 3rd Nov

Stress awareness day takes place on the first Wednesday in November, which in 2021 is Wednesday 3rd November. There has also been, since 2018, a wider and longer focus on stress awareness and prevention in the workplace via International Stress Awareness week which runs from 1-5 November 2021.

According to the International Stress Management Association, Stress is "That which arises when the pressure placed upon an individual exceeds the capacity of that individual to cope." Confederation of British Industry and "The adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them at work." HSE.

It’s really important to have measures in place to manage mental health and stress at work. A key building block is having staff trained in mental health first aid. Our mental health First Aid For All courses ensure staff are equipped to recognise the signs of stress and provide support for anyone feeling overloaded and unable to cope, whatever the reason, and without stigma.

Mental health first aid training can also give employees the skills and confidence to ensure the workplace is supportive and has open lines of communication for all staff. It may be that there are peaks and troughs in the business which can leave staff feeling overloaded at times and underused at others. Acknowledging this, and having measures in place to ensure the mental wellbeing of colleagues is seen as a priority throughout both the peaks and troughs will help morale and reduce staff absence and turnover. It’s also important to note that someone struggling with stress at work might be overloaded due to issues outside of work. This is why trained staff and open lines of communication are key.

Every business is different and our mental health courses can be tailored to your specific needs recognising that stressors can be unique to a particular sector. The stressors for those in front line customer-facing roles may be different to those in fast-paced seasonal production with tight deadlines, and different again to anyone working within say a healthcare setting.
Having staff trained in mental health and stress at work, who know what to look out for, and who recognise the importance of keeping their skills up to date will help create a harmonious and happy workforce.

Find and book a course today mental health training courses.

 

Author: Suheyla Brown-Kenna
Published: 01 Nov 2021

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