Vhi Healthcare Launches National 'Get Unstressed' Campaign

11th September 2000 - Stress is a major factor affecting our health today. Recent studies show that 48% of Irish females and 41% of males believe their health would improve if they reduced the levels of stress in their lives.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) predicts that by 2020, five of the top ten illnesses world wide will be stress related. In addition, international studies indicate that the cost of occupational stress in Ireland could be as high as 10% of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Prompted by these facts, Vhi Healthcare has developed a national campaign focussed on stress in the workplace as part of its Go for It healthy lifestyle education programme. Get Unstressed was launched today (11 September 2000) by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD who explained how he Gets Unstressed saying: "Whenever I have a chance, I go for a run and I find it’s the best way to clear my head."

Developed with the assistance of Professor Anthony Clare MD, FRCP, FRCPI, FRGPsych, Get Unstressed provides information to both business and individuals on identifying, reducing and managing stress.

"We all need a certain amount of stress in our lives to survive, however, stress is a growing problem as a result of the fast moving world we live in. Unless we learn to manage our stress, it can have severe implications on our health. Stressed people often increase their drinking and smoking and are particularly at risk of developing coronary heart disease, certain cancers and psychiatric disorders," said Professor Clare.

As part of the programme a guide to diffusing organisational stress, edited by Professor Clare, has been produced containing practical strategies for reducing stress in the workplace. Over 40,000 copies of the booklet have been distributed to managing directors, human resources managers and Vhi Healthcare group secretaries as part of the programme.

In addition, 500,000 copies of the Top Ten Tips for Diffusing Stress will be distributed to individuals via the national newspapers as part of the campaign.

A national multi-media stress awareness advertising campaign focussing on some of the key symptoms of stress - sleeplessnes, anxiety over workload and communications problems will support the initiative over the coming weeks.

For information and practical advice on dealing with stress individuals can visit vhi.ie and click on Get Unstressed. They can also do an interactive personality test to discover how their personality type can deal with stress or enter a draw to win a stress free holiday in Sicily.

"This initiative is about promoting healthy lifestyles," said Vhi Healthcare chief executive Oliver Tattan. "Vhi Healthcare's message in the Get Unstressed programme is that if we all evaluate our lives and take control of our stress levels, we will improve our health. We have focussed on stress in the workplace because research has shown that lack of control in one’s working environment is one of the main causes of stress.

"We are also encouraging companies to adopt a stress management programme. This will help improve everyone’s health while addressing key issues including productivity, absenteeism and employee retention," he said.