Stress Awareness Month

Amber Parker, RHG Mental Health First Aider

Stress Awareness Month

Having been observed every April since 1992, Stress Awareness Month strives to increase awareness of the causes and cures for stress. This year’s theme is #LeadWithLove and encourages us to be kind, accepting and compassionate not only to others, but to ourselves too, no matter what challenges we face.

Here are some ways you can #LeadWithLove:

• Be an active listener. You don’t have to have all the answers, sometimes people just need to feel listened to and validated. A problem shared is a problem halved!
• Treat yourself with the same kindness you treat others with. Practice self-care and don’t put too much pressure on yourself when things get too much. Consider what you would advise a friend to do who was in your situation and give yourself that same level of empathy.
• Practice acts of kindness. It could be something as small as holding the door open for somebody. Research proves that helping others can be beneficial to our own mental health. You also don’t know what a positive impact it might have on the receiver.

Need more ideas of how to #LeadWithLove? See the ‘Kindness Calendar’ below, courtesy of The Stress Management Society