Stress Awareness Month has been held every April, since 1992, to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures of our modern stress epidemic. Despite this running for 29 years, we have got a long way to go. According to the Mental Health Foundation, 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point over the last year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.

Millions of us around the UK are experiencing high levels of stress and it is damaging our health. Stress is one of the great public health challenges of our time, but it still isn’t being taken as seriously as physical health concerns. Stress is a significant factor in mental health problems including anxiety and depression. It is also linked to physical health problems like heart disease, problems with our immune system, insomnia and digestive problems. Individually we need to understand what is causing us personal stress and learn what steps we can take to reduce it for ourselves and those around us.

The theme for Stress Awareness Month 2021 is ‘Regaining Connectivity, Certainty and Control’.  The Stress Management Society recently collaborated with Huawei to conduct a study on stress, gathering data from 2000 British adults. The research identified that 65% of people in the UK have felt more stressed since the COVID-19 restrictions began in March 2020.  The three key causes for concern are feelings of disconnection, uncertainty and a worrying loss of control.

This year the Stress Management Society will be hosting a 30 Day Challenge to encourage you to pick one action each for your Physical, Mental and Emotional Well-being to carry out every day.  It takes 30 days to turn actions into habits, which is why this is a month-long programme.  The 30-day challenge will maximise your chances of turning useful knowledge and techniques into positive behavioural change.

Hamnett Wealth Management could help you reduce your financial worries by working with you to plan for your future financial situation. We are passionate about making sure your finances are in good shape. We provide a bespoke personal financial planning service. Our extensive portfolio of advice covers areas from pensions to inheritance matters and tax-efficient investments. We are Chartered Independent Financial Advisors (IFAs) and are not restricted in any way. We are dedicated to building long-lasting relationships to help you secure your future.

To find out more about stress awareness and take a look at the fantastic resources available to help, please visit:  https://www.stress.org.uk/stressawarenessmonth/