How to Support Staff Wellbeing – Stress Awareness Week 2025
Stress Awareness Week is a timely reminder that stress is more than a wellbeing issue. It’s a Health and Safety risk. Under UK law, employers have a duty to assess and manage stress in the workplace. Find out more. For those working in Health and Social Care, where emotional demands and workforce pressures are high, this responsibility is especially important.
Why Stress Awareness Week matters
Work-related stress remains one of the leading causes of ill health in the UK workforce.
In the last year, 776,000 workers reported stress, depression or anxiety, accounting for nearly half of all self-reported work-related ill health and leading to 16.4 million working days lost.
In Health and Social Care, these figures represent more than statistics — they reflect the daily reality for dedicated professionals working under immense pressure. When stress isn’t managed effectively, it affects not only staff wellbeing but also quality of care, productivity, and retention.
Legal Duties
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers are legally required to assess and manage risks to employees’ health — including stress.
That means proactively identifying potential stressors rather than waiting until problems arise. Understanding the pressures your teams face and taking action based on those findings is key to staying compliant and supporting wellbeing.
Understanding Stress in Health and Social Care
Stress is a natural response to pressure — but when it becomes overwhelming, it can lead to burnout, anxiety, and exhaustion. In care settings, common stressors include:
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Staff shortages or increased workloads
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Compliance and regulatory pressures
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Emotional demands of supporting people in need
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Limited time for rest or reflective practice
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Lack of supervision or training opportunities
Recognising these factors early allows employers to build supportive, person-centred workplaces where wellbeing is a shared responsibility.
Practical steps for Organisations
Building resilience across care teams starts with small, consistent actions. During Stress Awareness Week — and all year round — consider the following:
Encourage open conversations
Foster a culture where staff feel safe to talk about stress without judgment.
Provide regular supervision and support
Use supervision to reflect, share challenges, and identify solutions — not just review performance.
Promote training and competence
Confident, well-trained staff feel more in control, which naturally reduces stress and improves morale.
Prioritise self-care and breaks
Encourage staff to take breaks, use their leave, and engage in activities that support wellbeing.
Lead by example
When leaders prioritise their own wellbeing, they give others permission to do the same.
Even small changes, such as adding a coffee machine or tea station in the staff room, can make a meaningful difference — giving teams space to unwind and creating a safe environment for open conversation.
Next Steps
Use this week to take meaningful action in your workplace:
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Review your stress risk assessment and ensure it’s up to date.
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Start open conversations about wellbeing across your teams.
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Encourage learning and reflection among managers and staff.
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Look out for early signs of stress, such as low morale or conflict.
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Treat stress prevention like any other safety issue — make it part of your everyday routine.
Taking simple, proactive steps will help you stay compliant, protect staff wellbeing, and build a resilient, motivated workforce.
Final Thoughts
In Health and Social Care, wellbeing and quality of care go hand in hand. Taking stress seriously is a legal obligation and an essential part of maintaining a safe, healthy workplace.
For more information on our Mental Health, and Leadership, and Management Programmes, please get in touch with our experts, who will be happy to support your organisation.