05.13.2025 PCS
Stress Awareness Month 2025: Highlighting the importance of mental wellbeing
Stress Awareness Month is an annual event observed every April since 1992. It is dedicated to increasing public awareness about the causes of stress and how to alleviate it.
The Stress Management Society, a non-profit organisation established in 2003, has led this initiative for over two decades. Its mission is to help individuals and organisations recognise and reduce stress, ultimately fostering a happier, healthier, and more resilient world.
For Stress Awareness Month 2025, the theme is #leadwithlove. This theme encourages us to approach ourselves and others with kindness, compassion, and acceptance, no matter the challenges we face.
In light of Stress Awareness Month, we conducted a poll to gain deeper insights into the stress experiences of care staff.
Our survey focused on two key questions: first, we aimed to uncover the primary factors contributing to stress in their workplace environment, and second, we sought to learn about the various strategies and activities that care staff employ to relieve stress and promote their wellbeing.
By gathering this valuable information, we hope to better understand the challenges care staff face and encourage effective coping mechanisms in the field.
The feedback gathered highlighted some significant concerns among care staff:
In response to the question regarding the factors that contribute to stress in the workplace, care staff were presented with four options to choose from.
- Too many residents to look after: None of the care staff (0%) identified this option as a source of stress, suggesting that workload management in terms of resident numbers may be functioning adequately.
- Lack of time with residents: A small portion of care staff, comprising 11%, expressed that they feel stressed due to insufficient time spent with residents. This suggests a need for more opportunities to engage meaningfully with those in their care.
- Not enough support at work: One-third of respondents (33%) indicated that the lack of support in their roles contributes to their stress levels. This emphasises the importance of having a solid support system in place, whether it be managerial, peer support, or resources that could alleviate their burdens.
- No work-life balance: A significant majority, 56%, pointed to the absence of a proper work-life balance as their primary source of stress. This indicates that many care workers feel overwhelmed, potentially due to long hours or insufficient time for personal and family life, which can lead to burnout.
In response to the question regarding effective methods for relieving stress, care staff were presented with four options. The results were as follows:
- Exercise: 20% of respondents indicated that physical activity helps them manage stress. This can include a variety of activities such as running, yoga, or gym workouts.
- Take a holiday from work: 47% of participants chose this option, emphasising the importance of taking a break from their professional responsibilities to recharge and rejuvenate.
- Socialise with family and friends: Another 20% of care providers noted that spending quality time with loved ones is an effective way for them to relieve stress, highlighting the value of social connections and support.
- Meditate or read: Lastly, 13% of respondents indicated that they find relaxation through meditation or reading, suggesting that these quieter activities offer a valuable escape from daily pressures.
Overall, these responses reflect a diverse range of strategies that care workers use to cope with stress, underscoring the importance of both active and restful approaches.
The most important insight we can draw from the results
A growing body of research emphasises the critical role that work-life balance plays in the wellbeing and productivity of employees. For example, a recent article from The Guardian highlights findings from an annual review conducted by Randstad, an international recruitment company. This comprehensive survey gathered insights from over 26,000 workers across 35 markets, spanning regions such as Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Americas.
It revealed that work-life balance has become increasingly important to workers worldwide, where workers demand more from their employers, even in the face of a challenging economic environment and technological changes. According to this international survey of thousands of employees, it has emerged as their top priority, surpassing salary, which now ranks second in terms of motivation.
Another example is a survey conducted by CV-Library, an independent job site in the UK, which shed light on the challenges faced by social care workers regarding their work-life balance. The survey revealed that 62% of care workers left a job because they were fed up with spending too much time at work and not enough with their families.
The survey investigated how 1,200 workers in various industries across the UK felt about their work-life balance and whether it affected their career decisions. The results revealed that the care sector was one of the worst industries for work-life balance, with one in four carers admitting that they don’t currently spend enough time away from work.
What steps can care providers take to enhance work-life balance and reduce employee stress?
Working in the social care sector is frequently celebrated for its compassion and unwavering commitment to supporting those in need. However, beneath the admirable exterior, a significant and often overlooked challenge persists: the high prevalence of stress and burnout among care workers.
Care workers who dedicate their lives to serving others face overwhelming emotional and physical demands. These demands stem from various factors, including heavy workloads, insufficient staffing, emotional tolls from witnessing suffering, and the pressure to meet regulatory requirements. As a result, many care professionals in this field experience chronic stress, which can lead to burnout.
The environment in care settings can be particularly stressful due to the high demands of the job and the emotional challenges involved in caring for others. This stress has been exacerbated by the economic challenges that many organisations currently face.
In light of these factors, care providers must prioritise the wellbeing of their workforce.
Investing in employee wellbeing through support programs, training opportunities, and a positive work culture enhances job satisfaction and productivity and leads to better outcomes for the individuals receiving care.
Promoting a healthy work-life balance is crucial in this sector, as it significantly contributes to increased job satisfaction and overall productivity.
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