Stress Awareness Month has taken place every April since 1992 in an effort to highlight both the causes and cures for the modern stress epidemic. Christina Rees, MP for Neath, is urging constituents who are struggling to cope with stress to take part in the Stress Management Society’s ‘30 Day Challenge’, which encourages people to pick one action each for your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing to carry out every day.
Millions of people in the UK experience regular high levels of stress, which can have significant impacts on both mental and physical health. The pandemic has only made the public health challenge of stress even more urgent, with the Stress Management Society finding that 65% of people in the UK have felt more stressed since the beginning of the pandemic. The three main causes identified in this rise are feelings of disconnection, uncertainty and loss of control.
Christina Rees, MP for Neath, said:
“It’s very worrying to see that high stress levels have been rising during the pandemic and highlights how important it is that people know where to go for support if they need it. Stress Awareness Month calls attention to the public health challenge arising from the pandemic and showcases the excellent resources that are available for stress management.
“I would encourage constituents in Neath who are concerned about their levels of stress to visit the Stress Management Society webpage and to have a go at the ‘30 Day Challenge’. Remember to take time for yourself and learn to say no to requests if they are too much for you as lockdown restrictions begin to ease.”
For resources and advice on how to reduce and manage stress, including more information on the ‘30 Day Challenge’, head to the Stress Management Society’s dedicated webpage: https://www.stress.org.uk/national-stress-awareness-month-2019/