FRIDAY, 12 APRIL, 2024

Immediate release

Reduce your stress ‘Little By Little’

April is Stress Awareness Month and NHS Tayside is encouraging people to tune into their mental health and take steps to reduce feelings of stress.

Stress Awareness Month is held annually by the Stress Management Society to increase public awareness about stress and the things we can do to help manage and reduce feelings of stress. The theme of this year’s awareness month is ‘Little By Little’, with a focus on highlighting the power of small, everyday actions in helping to combat stress and improve our mental wellbeing.

Public Health registrar Dr Fiona Scott said, “Stress and poor mental health are two of the biggest public health challenges that we are facing in today’s fast-paced world. We know that around four out of five adults in the UK experience feelings of stress at least once a month, and that around three in four of us will have felt overwhelmed or unable to cope at some point in the last year.

“Different people may respond to and experience stress in different ways. A small amount of stress can sometimes be a good thing, but too much stress can negatively impact how we feel, both physically and mentally, as well as how we behave.”

During 2024, NHS Tayside and Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership will be jointly delivering a series of poverty and inequality training workshops for people who work or volunteer with public-facing services. This will enable them to better understand and support the needs of people who are facing financial challenges, which is one of the key causes of stress.

NHS Tayside is also encouraging people to think about the steps they can take to help reduce feelings of stress. Even the smallest of changes to our daily routine to try and build in healthier habits can lead to significant improvements in mental wellbeing over time. Here are some suggestions of things to try:

Be Active

Being active has a positive effect on our mental wellbeing by relaxing and boosting our mood. Discover a physical activity that you enjoy – it doesn’t have to be a strenuous workout, you could go for a walk, do some gardening or some yoga. Other tips to be more active include:

• Use the stairs instead of the lift

• Spend time outdoors

• Join an exercise class with friends or try some online options

Eat Well

If you tend to eat more when you are feeling stressed, you’re not alone but what we eat and drink can impact on how we feel. Tips to eat well include:

• Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables

• Try to use less oil and fat when cooking

• Try to drink less tea, coffee and fizzy drinks

Sleep Well

Regularly getting a good night’s sleep is very important to good mental health. Exercise can help with this, as well as cutting down on caffeine. Other tips to improve your sleep include:

• Make sure your bedroom is dark and quiet enough for you to sleep

• Try to relax before bedtime, away from TVs, smartphones and other digital devices, maybe have a warm bath

• Avoid big meals just before bedtime

• If you cannot sleep, try going to a different room and doing something else to take your mind off things. Having a milky drink can also help.

Try to relax

Feeling anxious and under pressure can affect our wellbeing. Think about what helps you relax and make time to do something just for you. You could:

• Go for a walk. It doesn’t have to be far, even just round the block can help.

• Try taking deep breaths for a few moments or do a guided meditation

• Learn a new skill or take up a new hobby

• Do something you enjoy, like dancing, reading or listening to music

If you continue to feel overwhelmed by stress, please contact your GP to discuss how you are feeling and get advice on possible treatment options.

Visit NHS Inform to find out more about what to do if you are struggling with stress. You can also try the Sleepio and Daylight apps which are free to everyone in Scotland and can help improve sleep and manage anxiety and stress.

Contact:

Louise Wilson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718