Stress management refers to the comprehensive way in which people meet the demands of life.
Mental health problems such as stress, anxiety and depression are common and are routinely listed as top concerns in employee health surveys. Stress occurs in a wide range of work circumstances, but it often becomes worse when employees feel they have little support from supervisors and colleagues and where they have no control over the work or how they can handle their demands and pressures. There is often confusion between pressure or challenge and stress and it is sometimes used to excuse bad management practices. Pressure in the workplace is inevitable due to the demands of the contemporary work environment. Pressure perceived as acceptable by an individual, can even keep workers alert, motivated, fit for the job, depending on available resources and personal characteristics. However, when that pressure becomes excessive or otherwise, uncontrollable leads to stress. Stress can damage the health of your employees and the performance of your business. The World Health Organization has stated that "Stress results from an incompatibility between the demands and pressures on the person and their set of knowledge and skills." The organization itself generates several types of risk for stress. Tertiary prevention in organizations places an emphasis on providing responsive and efficient occupational health services. Stress management at work should therefore cover education for prevention. A good employer designs and manages work in a way that avoids common risk factors for stress and prevents predictable problems as much as possible. Stress in the workplace is recognized worldwide as a challenge to the health and happiness of workers. Workers who are stressed are more likely to have more health problems, be less motivated and less productive at work. When a healthy choice is available, people are more likely to feel better. Workplaces can play a role in supporting employees, making it easier for them to seek resources and receive referrals for mental health and treatment. Employers can also benefit from looking at organizational culture and learning about what affects employees' stress level. |
