NEW Scottish Government research has found 82 per cent of Borderers suffer from stress, writes Kenny Paterson.
A quarter of those interviewed also admitted feeling stressed several times a week but only 32 per cent talked to friends or relatives about their problems.
The survey of 1,000 people across Scotland was conducted to coincide with the Scottish Gov
ernment’s new Steps for Stress campaign, launched on Monday to promote good mental health.
A series of venues across the region – including libraries, Citizen Advice Bureaux, job centres, housing associations and GP surgeries – will have booklets available which contain steps on how to deal with stress such as getting a good night’s sleep and being more physically active.
Supporting the campaign, Dr Eric Baijal, NHS Borders director of public health, said: “Stress is a common issue that can lead to a range of mental and physical health problems if people don’t have the support and resources they need to cope.
“The Steps for Stress campaign will offer individuals practical information to help them identify the sources of stress in their lives and to take positive steps to feel better about themselves and start to take action. We welcome the campaign and the role it will play in efforts to improve mental wellbeing in the Borders.”
Other statistics from the survey showed 46 per cent of Borders questioned believed financial worries are the main source of stress, followed by pressure to perform at work or college (42 per cent) and family problems (29 per cent).
Only 16 per cent of Borderers say they never suffer from stress.General anxiety was recognised as the main symptom of stress by 37 per cent, while poor sleep (33 per cent) and feeling tired (23 per cent) were also common.
Public health minister Shona Robison added: “Lots of us can be affected by stress, but there is help out there and also lots we can do to help ourselves. Our campaign is about making small but positive changes – even simple steps such as going for a walk can make a real difference.”
For more information on dealing with stress or to order a copy of the Steps for Stress booklet, go to www.stepsforstress.org
