It’s no secret that stress can have a big impact on a person’s mental health so it’s crucial that we take good care of ourselves when going through stressful times.
April is Stress Awareness Month, and we want to raise awareness about how stress can affect both our physical and mental health.
Stress Awareness Month was created by the Stress Management Society and the theme of this year’s awareness month is Taking Action. The society hopes to encourage others to look deeper into what actions one can take to create a change in their personal and professional life to reduce stress.
Stress is defined as our reactions when faced with pressure. It typically occurs when we are in a situation that feels out of our control. At times, stress can help us to feel energised when completing tasks but when stress doesn’t leave or is too intense, it can affect our physical and mental health.
Not only can stress develop into mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it can also make existing mental health issues worsen.
It’s vital that we take action against stress to look after our mental and physical well-being. Practicing stress management during tense periods helps ensure we endure them more smoothly and allows us to take better care of ourselves following a stressful event.
There are many ways we can look after our well-being to ensure that we manage stress. Taking time to relax and reward ourselves by taking breaks to enjoy things that interest us as well as spending time exercising and in nature can all help reduce symptoms of stress.
We can also turn to our support networks for relief from stress such as sharing how we feel with friends and family, and there may also be support available in your workplace or at university or college.
With all the stresses that modern life brings, it’s more crucial than ever that we take care of our mental well-being, particularly if you are already living with a mental health condition.
MAC are currently looking for volunteers to join trials investigating potential improved treatments for the following mental health conditions:
Eligibility criteria will apply for each trial. You may receive reimbursement for your time and commitment if eligible as well as travel expenses paid, or transport provided. If you would like to register your interest, click the links above for the clinical trial you are interested in.
Alternatively you can register onto our clinical trial volunteer database, and we’ll match you to a trial that is best suited to you based on the information you provide.
