What is Stress Awareness Month?
Stress Awareness Month is an annual event observed every April since 1992, dedicated to increasing public awareness about the causes, effects, and management of stress. The Stress Management Society, a nonprofit organisation established in 2003, has been championing this initiative for over two decades. Our mission is to help individuals and organisations recognise and reduce stress, fostering happier, healthier, and more resilient communities.
Each year, we introduce a unique theme to guide our activities and resources. In 2024, the theme was #LittleByLittle, highlighting how small, consistent positive actions can make a meaningful difference to overall wellbeing. In 2025, the focus shifted to #LeadWithLove, encouraging compassion, kindness, and unconditional positive regard as tools for stress management.
The primary aims of Stress Awareness Month are to:
For over 30 years, Stress Awareness Month has had a different theme each year which reflects societal challenges.
For Stress Awareness Month 2026, we’re proud to introduce the theme
#BeTheChange
a powerful call to personal agency, action, and transformation rooted in the principles of Self-Efficacy, Neuroplasticity, and Relational Connection.
The Problem
We live in a time where it’s easy to wait for someone else to step up, to fix things, to make the first move, to create change. We wait for systems to improve, for people to be kinder, for stress to simply disappear. And too often, we give up before we begin, telling ourselves: “How could one person like me possibly make a difference?”
Historical Inspiration
But history reminds us otherwise. Every meaningful shift in society started with someone who refused to believe they were “too small” to matter. If figures like Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr. had waited for someone else to act, if they had believed their voice wouldn’t change anything, the world would look very different today.
The truth is this: no one is coming to save us. Real, lasting change doesn’t arrive all at once it begins quietly, with individuals choosing to think differently, act differently, and care differently. The change we are waiting for starts with each of us.
This theme builds on 2025’s #LeadWithLove by asking the next critical question: Now that we approach ourselves and others with compassion, what will we actually do? How will we turn awareness into action? How will we use the power of our own minds, our choices, and our connections to create real change?
Why Should You Join In?
Stress affects everyone, but the good news is that you have the power to make a difference. By participating in Stress Awareness Month 2026 and embracing the #BeTheChange movement, you’re not just raising awareness you’re actively reducing stress in your own life and influencing the world around you.
Joining the movement offers you the chance to:
Move from feeling overwhelmed or powerless to actively shaping your wellbeing. Awareness is the first step, but action is what transforms stress into resilience.
Your choices, actions, and stories can encourage friends, family, and communities to step forward and create positive change too.
Explore resources, challenges, and guidance designed to help you cope with stress, make mindful decisions, and implement meaningful actions every day
Join a network of individuals who, like you, are committed to turning awareness into action, fostering connection, and building a more resilient society.
Small, consistent actions speaking up, offering support, practicing self-care can create meaningful, lasting change that extends far beyond your immediate circle.
Your action matters. Your choice matters. By being the change, you reduce stress, build resilience, and inspire a world that prioritises wellbeing for everyone.
How We Can Support Your Organisation
International Wellbeing Insights Ltd works with a wide range of organisations, from global corporations like Mars and Philips to educational institutions, construction companies, and government bodies, helping them create meaningful wellbeing initiatives. Whether your goal is to enhance employee wellbeing, strengthen team collaboration, or introduce effective stress management programs, we design bespoke solutions to fit your unique needs.
Want to explore how #BeTheChange can make a difference in your organisation? Book a consultation with one of our wellbeing experts to discuss your goals and discover how we can help your team build a healthier, happier workplace.
Together, let’s make Stress Awareness Month 2026 a chance to take meaningful action and inspire positive change across your organisation.
How You Can Be Part of the #BeTheChange Campaign
✔ Take Personal Action: Look after your own wellbeing through self-care, reflection and mindful choices
✔ Make Small Acts Matter: Every action counts. Show kindness, listen or support someone in need
✔ Share Your Journey: Inspire others by sharing your experiences using #BeTheChange
✔ Participate in Activities: Join in with simple actions and initiatives that turn awareness into action
✔ Explore Our Resources: Use guidance and tools to help you create positive change and reduce stress
Exclusive Stress Awareness Month Offer
To help your organisation take the next step towards a thriving workplace, we are offering our #LeadWithLove corporate session at a special discounted rate.
Book before 31st March 2025 to receive this session for just £997 + VAT (normally £1,597). Sessions must be delivered by 31st May 2025.
Resources
We’re preparing a range of materials to support you throughout Stress Awareness Month, including our information pack, so stay tuned. If you would like to know what is to come for Stress Awareness Month, sign up for our newsletter to get the latest updates.
We’re so glad you’re joining us for Stress Awareness Month 2026 and becoming part of the #BeTheChange movement. To stay connected, deepen your understanding, and access supportive resources, here’s how you can get involved and reach out:
Visit Our Website: For free resources, updates, and campaign details, check out www.stress.org.uk.
Follow Us on Social Media: Stay inspired and share your journey on social media.
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Contact Us: Have questions or want to get involved further? Reach out to us at: info@stress.org.uk
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