April of each year is Stress Awareness Month. The month was created in 1992 to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic. The theme for 2021 is ‘Regaining Connectivity, Certainty and Control’.
The courses cover:
- Causes and signs of stress
- Impact on mental wellbeing
- Coping with stress
- Managing stress at work
- Developing your stress management plan
Look Ahead staff have shared their experiences taking these stress awareness courses.
Dupsy Olutunfese, IDVA at Kent Integrated Domestic Abuse Service, describes how attending the Stress Awareness workshops has helped her
“I have seized the opportunity to maximise the benefits available to us by attending the stress awareness workshop, organised by the Learning and Development Team. The impact of the success created the desire to further explore the follow up sessions.
This is done via zoom during working hours and you get to meet colleagues from across services that you would not usually talk to or meet on a day to day basis.
During this monthly follow up session we have enabling discussions that creates the awareness that we all feel same stress concerns and we remind and encourage each other on using coping strategies learnt to manage our stress.
Kent DA Service
"I have learnt different stress coping strategies... this has improved my outlook and approach to work and life balance"
I have learnt different stress coping strategies, e;g Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping), How to improve sleep, Managing my finances, How to work out personal values, Importance of values and how to establish these.
Since I have become conscious of the knowledge and resources available during the stress awareness month, I have being able to be in control of my wellbeing and the monthly check in follow up sessions are handy for rebalancing. This has improved my outlook and approach to work and life balance.”
Sally Powell, Team Leader at Kent Mental Health Services, tells us about her experience of the workshop and what she has gained from attending
“Taking the time to attend the wellbeing and self-care workshop was in itself an act of self-care. Carving time out of my day to do something beneficial for me actually enabled me to work more effectively than if I had just kept going in my work day.
Team Leader
"I have found that the knowledge I gained through attending has given me resources that I can also pass on to my customers"
I have found that the knowledge I gained through attending has given me resources that I can also pass on to my customers. I am able to select from many strategies to find something that works for those struggling with stress, anxiety and depression.
It has enabled us to create a ‘self-care’ plan which is something we can all do. It serves as a ‘go-to’ to get yourself out of a negative thinking spiral by knowing in advance what can help to shift your mind-set”.
Feeling at home means feeling happy and well. We take a holistic approach to wellbeing that includes your physical, mental and emotional health.
Learn more about our wellbeing offer for staff and explore vacancies at Look Ahead here.
